Sunday, February 23, 2025

Walter D. Knapp of Riley Township, Sandusky County, Ohio


     I blogged about Walter D. Knapp, my husbands paternal great great great grandfather back in 2010.  Walter and his brother, Isaac Knapp, both sons of Benjamin and Katherine Knapp removed to the Detroit area of Michigan before coming to Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio circa 1814.  Their exploits in the War of 1812 and as early mail carriers in the area are retold in numerous Fremont/Sandusky County history books in on Flipside.  

     This year I have been working to blog about my husband's family.  I have bits and bobs on Flipside; however, have not tied them all together.  The time of Knapp has arrived, although I am working backward.  I have covered Walter's wife, Catherine Huffhine Knapp and several of their children, but not the patriarch of the family.  


     As mentioned earlier, Walter found a home in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio as early as 1814.  He has a War of 1812 document, although I have not found him on any Ohio or Michigan War of 1812 Rosters or the name of his Captain.

     Unfortunately, there is not much information regarding Walter Knapp, his more illustrious brother, Isaac Knapp, was very active politically in Sandusky County, Ohio.

     Walter is MIA in the 1820, 1830 and 1840 census enumerations.  He may have been enumerated with a family and not under his name.

1841 Pickaway County Ohio Marriage Record
page 38
    
     Walter was present in Pickaway County in 1841.  At age forty-one  he married twenty-seven year old Catherine Huffhine (Huffine) on Mat 27, 1841.  Catherine was the daughter of Isaac Huffhines and Eleanor Hendrickson.  

     During the first decade the Knapp family grew by five children.  Together they had eight known children:
  1. Ellnor (Elinor, Ellen) Knapp 1841-1927
  2. John W. Knapp 1843-1906
  3. Joseph C. Knapp 1845-
  4. Drusilla Knapp 1848-1925 (my husband's great great grandmother)
  5. Walter Knapp 1849-1877
  6. Ezra Knapp 1850-1931
  7. Hannah Knapp 1854-
  8. Isaac Knapp 1859-1883
1850 Ohio Census
Madison Township District 38
Franklin County
November 11, 1850

Walter Knapp, age 51, male, farmer born in Canada
Catherine Knapp, age 30, female, born in Ohio
Elinor Knapp, age 10, born in Ohio
John Knapp, age 7, born in Ohio
Joseph Knapp, age 5, born in Ohio
Drusilla Knapp, age 3, born in Ohio
Walter Knapp, age 1, born in Ohio


History of Madison Township
including
Groveport and Canal Winchester
Fulton County, Ohio
page 470

     There is a curious record regarding a Hannah K. Knapp daughter of Walter and Druscilla Knapp.  She was born in 1836 and died in 1858.  On Find A Grave, Walter Knapp born in Canada is listed as her father and Druscilla Knapp, possibly deceased by 1850, her mother.  Could this mean that Walter was married before Catherine and had children by this marriage?  Or was the reading of this tombstone after so many decades not accurate?  My husband's paternal great great grandmother was one of Walter and Catherine's children and she was named Drusilla.  Where did that name come from?

     It is my understanding from the book this information was taken from  actual readings done in the spring of 1899.  And Water and Catherine did have a daughter named Hannah who was born in 1854.  She is enumerated at age six on the 1860 census; however is not enumerated on the 1870 census.  


     Sometime between 1850 and 1860 the Knapp family removed from Franklin County to Sandusky County.  In 1860 Walter was farming in Ballville Township and by 1870 they were in Riley Township.

1860 Ohio Census
Ballville Township, Ballville Post Office
Sandusky County
July 15, 1860

Walter Knapp, age 68, male, master farmer, born in Canada
Catherine Knapp, age 38, female, born in Ohio
John W. Knapp, age 15, male, born in Ohio, attended school
Joseph Knapp, age 12, male, born in Ohio, attended school
Rusilla Knapp, age 11, female, born in Ohio, attended school
Walter Knapp, age 10, male, born in Ohio, attended school
Azro Knapp, age 8, male, born in Ohio, attended school
Hannah Knapp, age 6, female, born in Ohio, attended school
Isaac Knapp, age 1, male, born in Ohio

     Continuing to reside in Sandusky County, Walter moved to a cabin in Riley Township before 1870.

1870 Ohio Census
Riley Township, Fremont Post Office
Sandusky County
June 6, 1870

Knapp, Walter, age 71, male, married, day laborer, no stated real or personal estate, born in Canada, both parents foreign born, male citizen of 21 years

Knapp, Catherine, age 64, female, married, keeping house, born in Ohio, cannot write.

Knapp, Isaac, age 11, make, single, at home, born in Ohio, father foreign born, attended school, cannot write



The Democratic Messenger
November 2, 1871
page 4

     Walter kept a pretty low profile throughout life following his early days as a mail carrier and escape from a Canadian prison.  There are very few mentions in newspapers or history books.  I was happy to find this 1871 mention as a hired ditch digger for the Sandusky County Infirmary.  

Cited below

     Walter Knapp was enrolled as a pioneer member living in the original Sandusky County, Ohio boundaries between 1830-1845.  The Isaac's widow also highlighted, is the wife of Walter's brother, Isaac Knapp.

     On September 1, 1877 the Knapp Family became infamous from the details of their youngest son, Isaac, killing his brother Walter over a debt owed.  Isaac was tried and convicted of second degree murder and sent to the state penitentiary.  The murder occurred in the cabin of Walter Knapp with both Walter and Catherine present.  

     Walter D. Knapp died at age eighty-four from consumption on February 8, 1878 in Sandusky County, Ohio.  The record is on the Family Search database, Ohio, Deaths and Burials 1854-1997. 

     To date there is no record of Walter D. Knapp's burial or that of his son, Walter Knapp.

Works Cited

Baries, Geo, History of Madison Township Including Groveport and Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio. Geo. F. Baries, Publisher, 1902

Meek, Basil ed, Twentieth Century History of Sandusky, Ohio and its Representative Citizens, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co, Chicago, 1909, page 222

 

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.
© 2025, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser


Saturday, February 22, 2025

Family Secret--The Knapp Brothers

     Amy Johnson Crow has a 52 Ancestors Week blog challenge which I have decided to give a try for the second year. 

     The prompt for week # 9 (February 26-March 4) is Family Secret.

     I am not sure how secret this family story is.  Certainly it was known by family and community members because it was covered in the local newspapers; however, like many stories, it faded over the decades.  Years back, when I was researching the family, I was surprised to find this account of my husband's family.  It has all the ingredients of a juicy family secret:  debt, anger, murder and prison.

     My husbands parental great great great grandfather, Walter D. Knapp, was born in Canada in 1794.  Walter's early life in the United States has been covered in one of my blogs.  He and his family removed from Ontario, Canada to Detroit, Michigan and then he and his brother, Isaac removed to Fremont, Ohio.

Pickaway County Marriage Record
1840
page 38


     On May 27, 1841 forty-seven year old Walter D. Knapp married twenty-seven year old Catherine Huffhine, daughter of Isaac Hoffhines and Eleanor Hendrickson, in Pickaway County, Ohio.  The couple was married by a Justice of the Peace.  

     Walter and Catherine had eight known children who survived childbirth and their early years.  I have had some success researching the Knapp siblings, others I have hit the proverbial brick wall.  The children were all born in Ohio; however, a variety of counties are given.  Walter was a farmer and by 1870, the family was living on a farm in Riley Township, Sandusky County, Ohio with Fremont, Ohio as their post office.

  Children of Walter and Catherine Knapp 

Note:  years of birth differ from census reports and death certificates of some of the children.

  1. Ellnor (Elinor, Ellen) Knapp 1841-1927
  2. John W. Knapp 1843-1906
  3. Joseph C. Knapp 1845-
  4. Drusilla Knapp 1848-1925 (my husband's great great grandmother)
  5. Walter Knapp 1849-1877
  6. Ezra Knapp 1850-1931
  7. Hannah Knapp 1854-
  8. Isaac Knapp 1859-1883
     The subjects of the family secret are brothers Walter Knapp, Jr. and Isaac Knapp.  There are numerous newspaper articles outlining the events of the morning and what lead up to the murderous family event.  I have a separate blog, The 1877 Knapp Case, with the actual article scanned.

      The Knapp family lived in a small log cabin north of the town of Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio in Riley Township.  The two young men lived with their parents; however, a dispute irrupted between the brothers and Walter left home to live with neighbors.   

     The issue was a debt Water owed to his brother in the amount of $11.00 for work Isaac did on the farm where Walter was living.  Isaac purchased a gun (later described as a rifle) and spent time practicing his shooting.  He then sued his brother for the money.  A constable picked up Walter and took him to his father's house.  Isaac and Walter had a violent argument and Walter left going back to the farm where he was living and working. 

     The next morning, Saturday, September 1, 1877, Walter headed back to his parents house and was shot by his brother Isaac.  The only people present at the time of the shooting were the parents, Walter and Catherine Knapp and a little girl.  

     The  parents version of the shooting was inconsistent and contradictory at the trial.  Catherine Knapp had breakfast started and called Isaac down to the table.  Walter had been in the family barn having come home earlier, talked with his mother.  He came back into the house, in a belligerent mood, sat down at the table and asked Isaac the amount he owed.  He then denied the amount and began a fight saying he was going to kill Isaac.  Catherine tried to pull Walter back and Isaac was pulled back by his father, Walter, Sr.  Walter tired to hit Isaac with a chair and fearful for his life shot Walter through the heart with his rifle.      
     
     Twenty-eight year old Walter died immediately from the gunshot wound at his parent's cabin in Riley Township, Sandusky County, Ohio on September 1, 1877.  Isaac was eighteen years old when he murdered his brother.

     I do want to mention that in a newspaper article in the Sandusky Register, the amount of the debt owed is $6.00 and the weapon was a pistol.  

     Henry M. Klopfer, a resident in Fremont, went to the scene of the murder with Constable Martin Renschler.  He was also present for the autopsy.  At that time the constable deputized Henry Klopfer and Henry took Isaac Knapp to Fremont after he had been put under arrest.  

     Henry Klopfer became a policeman and in 1911 he was made Chief of Police in Fremont, Ohio.  At his death in 1937 he had served fifty years with the department.  

    There is a very lengthy accounting of the Knapp murder in the newspaper, Fremont Courier, a German newspaper. I wish it could be translated.  I believe there is mention of where young Walter was buried; however, there is no cemetery by that name in or near Fremont.  The cemetery name looks to be Dalwood.  There is an Oakwood Cemetery in the area.  Neither Walter Knapp,  Sr. or his son, Walter Knapp, Jr. are listed on Find A Grave.  Their burial place is one of my brick walls. 

     To be continued........
     


I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.
© 2025, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser


Monday, February 17, 2025

Migration--Linda and Ted on the Move

 

     Amy Johnson Crow has a 52 Ancestors Week blog challenge which I have decided to give a try for the second year. 

     The prompt for week # 8 (February 19-25) is Migration.

     Over the years I have blogged about the movement of my ancestors, some from foreign countries and some from state to state.  I have decided to blog about my migration with my husband following our wedding in 1969.  Since we stayed in the United States it would be called internal migration.  Like many young couples, we moved for advanced education and employment.

1.  Tiffin, County, Ohio  August 1969-July 1970


     Ted and I met in Tiffin at Heidelberg College (now known as Heidelberg University).  We married and returned to Tiffin.  Ted's hometown was Tiffin and he found a cute little one bedroom furnished apartment we rented for $103.00 a month.  Interesting side note:  it had a push button toilet. 😂

     I was hired as a center coordinator/head teacher at the WSOS Clyde, Ohio Head Start Center.  Ted was employed as a bar tender at the local country club.

     We added the first two pieces of furniture, both antiques and a dog from the local dog shelter, Legolas.  

     Ted was admitted into the Masters Degree/PhD program in political science at Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts with a full tuition scholarship.  And we were off.......

2.  Somerville, Massachusetts  August 1970-June 1971

     Moving into the complete unknown.  We found the listing on a board at Tufts when we drove to Massachusetts in June.  Ted's parents must have donated old furniture to "the cause".  I drove Legolas and a car filled with stuff and Ted followed in a rental van.  


     Compared to our place in Tiffin, this apartment was spacious.  What I found fun was the elevator.  It was an old open metal birdcage and reminded me of the elevator Mary Tyler Moore danced in in the 1967 movie Thoroughly Modern Millie. 😁   

     Ted was able to get a financial stipend and I was hired as a secretary to the public relations/alumni relations department at Tufts.  My only secretarial skill was typing class in high school, definitely not qualified.  On the plus side, we were both able to drive to the same place every morning.  On the negative side, a very low monthly income.  We were most definitely living the "broke student life".         

     This section of Somerville in 1970 was pretty slummy.  Junkies hung out on street corners.  A portion of our building caught on fire.  To add to my distress, three weeks of my pay was used to pay the rent.  What was left paid utilities and groceries.  Needless to say, these were our "thin" years. 😖

     During this year we added another pet to the family, a large Old Maine Coon stray we named Eowyn.  We did have a Tolkien theme going on with our pets.  

3.  North Reading, Massachusetts  June 1971-June 1972

      Ted met a married couple in his classes and they were renting a half of a house in North Reading.  The other half was up for rent and we grabbed it.  North Reading is a quaint town.  Our place was furnished and the front door actually had original bullseye glass.  The downside, a longer drive to Medford.  The upside, we got out of Somerville.

     Still financially strapped and I was not happy with my job.  For some unknown reason we decided to adopt a pedigree dog named Ginger from a well known family.  It was short lived.  Ginger was unruly and we returned her to her original owners.

     We had an influx of furniture while living here.  My maternal grandmother died and my parents had all of her furniture moved to North Reading.  Most was stored in the house basement.

4.  Tiffin, Ohio  June 1972-June 1973

     Hallelujah!  We returned to Tiffin.  Ted had been hired as an instructor in the Political Science Department at Heidelberg and I was rehired with WSOS Head Start as the center coordinator/head teacher at the Rising Sun Center that was housed in Bascom, Ohio.

     Ted's parents arranged a rental for us--a whole house.  Unfurnished; however, we now had furniture!  Day to day life settled down.  We were both happy with work and there was a small financial security.

5.  Warrensville Heights, Ohio  June 1973-1975

     Through his employment in the political science department at Heidelberg Ted received a contract to direct a Cooperative Urban Studies Program through Cleveland State University in Cleveland.  Once again we were driving to a new city and looking for an apartment to rent.  We landed in a large group of new apartments and moved into a two story two bedroom deluxe.  During the summer I found a Head Start program on the "other" side of town.  Ted and I decided to simply park the car, take the rapid to work and meet up back at the car in the evening.  Our dog Legolas and cat Eowyn were still in the family.  

6.  Clifton Boulevard, Lakewood, Ohio 1975-1979



     During the summer of 1975, the decision was made to move to the west side of Cleveland.  I had been promoted to head teacher of a Head Start center and needed to be there to open up at 6:00.  We loved this new apartment.  Not as spacious as the one in Warrensville Heights...just classic old style architecture.  Built in bookcases in the living room and beautiful large bay window in the dining area that I filled with hanging plants.  Ted was now on the faculty and the administration of the Institute of Urban Studies at Cleveland State.

     We added a second dog, an English Springer Spaniel named Mandy and in 1978, our first child, Aric Hughes Hiser was born. A friend and I decided to babysit children of working mothers and that became my source of income for several years. 

7.  Marlowe Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio  1979-November 1981

     We moved to a two story rental house and I continued to babysit.  Our second child, Garrett Bevin Hiser was born while living on Marlowe Avenue.  Ted continued in his same positions; however, the department had a new name, The Department of Urban Affairs.

8.  Giel Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio  November 1981-June 1988  First owned home

Two tone hardwood floor

Built in China cupboard and
partial view of French doors

     It was decided that we needed a house of our own and with the financial assistance of Ted's parents we moved to the Giel Avenue address.  The natural tiger stripe oak throughout the downstairs was a selling point for me.  Wood beams, two toned hardwood floor, built in china cupboard and wood and glass French doors.

     Ted continued to be an administrator and teacher at Cleveland State in the Department of Urban Affairs.  I continued to babysit.  Ted decided to go to law school in 1982. The boys were growing up and I made the decision to go back into the classroom at a local nursery school.    

9.  North Olmsted, Ohio  June 1988- the present

My backyard playground
     When Ted graduated from law school and was hired by a firm in Cleveland, we decided it was time to move to a larger, more modern house.  We have lived here comfortably for thirty-seven years.  We have put sweat equity into the house and made and added many improvements.  As with all families we have had the happy glorious times and time of sadness and grief. Dogs and cats have lived here.  Employments have changed over the years.  Our eldest son passed.

     Like so many older Americans, the house and property are beginning to be too much to care for; however, we are not quite ready to pull the trigger on some form of senior housing.  

 

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.
© 2025, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser


Sunday, February 9, 2025

Letters & Diaries--What I learned from Grams' Letters

     
     Amy Johnson Crow has a 52 Ancestors Week blog challenge which I have decided to give a try for the second year. 

     The prompt for week # 7 (February 12-18) is Letters & Diaries.

     Unfortunately, I do not have any diaries to share on this blog; however, I do have a couple of the letters my paternal grandmother, Sarah Margaret VanGilder Hughes, sent to me and my parents.  My Mom saved bits and bobs for all three of her kids and they were stored in boxes from the various department stores in Pittsburgh.  They were called "baby boxes" although Mom saved stuff through our teen years and into adult hood.

     My grandmother, nicknamed Grams, typed her letters.  Before she married, she was employed in Pittsburgh as a typist/stenographer.  She was still typing into her late 70's.

     Like all genealogists, it often takes several "looks" or "reads" of the family archival records.  These few letters fall into that category.  

     I have blogged about a letter Grams wrote to me when I was born in 1947.  I have decided to highlight a few parts here, although the entire letter is a Treasure Chest Thursday submission--A Letter From Grams.

      Grams and Pop Pop were living in Monaca, Beaver County, Pennsylvania when this letter was written.  They were living with their daughter, Faith and Pop Pop's mother, Elizabeth Ferdinande Olesen Hughes.  When Faith graduated from high school, they all moved back to Bellevue, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.     

    
     This portion deals with laundry day and how women used to hang their clothes outside to dry on warm days.  She had a little hiccup one day hanging her clothes on the neighbors side.  The Grams I knew rarely/never got upset about these petty disagreements and apparently she didn't at this instance either.  Very even tempered.


     Grams did love to play cards.  When I was in elementary school and spending time at Grams and Pop Pop's for a long weekend, one activity was playing cards.  I's hear, "Lynn, go get the cards out of the credenza."  She taught me canasta.  I taught her Go Fish.  One of my proudest moments was during a week long stay with them in Florida over my college spring break.  By then I played bridge and sitting down with them and a fourth one night for an evening is a lasting memory.  

Before she became Grams 😁

     My brother, Ken, was born at Camp Carson, Colorado in 1952. Mom and I traveled west from Pittsburgh by train several months before the birth. These are excerpts from a long typed letter from Grams after the birth.
     
     I guess Ken was a large baby. 😇  I learned that my Dad and Uncle John were large babies when born.  


     Grams mentions twins without going into any details.  In 1977, she mentions twins as being born in her family.  The red hair comment comes from Grams' sister Anna Estelle who was a red head.  


     I found this comment humorous.  I was only five years old in 1952 but I do not remember jeans on women.  Grams never wore them.  And yet....


Look what I found.  A picture of Mom and me sitting on the steps of our place at Camp Carson and wearing........JEANS. 😂 


     Grams was not the seamstress that my maternal grandmother was; however, she did sew. Again, when I was in junior high and taking home economics, I made school clothes with Grams when I stayed overnight.  We would walk up to town and purchase a pattern and fabric.  

     Grams had a somewhat unorthodox method of not pinning the pattern onto the fabric.  She always said, "Lynn, never do it this way in class." She also showed me how to customize my outfit by substituting different pattern pieces i.e. different sleeves on a dress.   

     In December 1977, I had written to Grams and sent her a creche for Christmas.  I told her that if my baby was a girl, I intended to name her Sarah after her.  Her response had a few interesting details


     "Happy thought for the day:  **Every other generation in my family, there would be twins.  Maybe the Hiser's do not run into such redundancy."  
     
     Oddly, the finding of twins was in my paternal grandfather's Hughes line.  

     "I think Sarah is a horrible name.  That's why I've always been called Sally, (at my request).  I really was christened Sarah, and there has always been at lest one Sarah in our family since the late 1600.  HONEST!!"  

     Grams was referred to as Sal.  She changed her first name to Sara on documents, not legally; however, Sara was how it was written.  As to the first name Sarah going back into the late 1600's.  It does go back jumping from side to side on Grams family tree missing a generation of two here and there.



     During the years I was in college, Grams and I corresponded by letter. I wish I had had the foresight to have saved some of them.  

Grams and me in Florida
1964

 

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.
© 2025, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser


Monday, February 3, 2025

Surprise--My Paternal Great Great Grandfather John Oliphant VanGilder

Cabinet Card
In my possession

Reverse side of the cabinet card.
Unfortunately most of the black backing
has fallen off.  It was clearly marked
Great Grandfather VanGilder
     
     Amy Johnson Crow has a 52 Ancestors Week blog challenge which I have decided to give a try for the second year. 

     The prompt for week # 6 (February 5-11) is Surprise.

     When I was linking VanGilder siblings to their parents, I was surprised to find I had never done a biographical blog on their father and my paternal great great grandfather, John Oliphant VanGilder.  Today I am correcting that sixteen year oversight.

     John was born on February 22, 1829 on Monongalia County, (West) Virginia to Jacob VanGilder, Jr and Sarah McElroy VanGilder.  He joined a three year old sister, Eliza J. VanGilder.  

     When the extended VanGilder Family removed to Monongalia County in the early 1800's the current day county lines were not drawn.  I was not certain where Jacob and Sarah lived and raised their growing family.  Just today, as I was looking for any additional information about any of the family I saw on Find A Grave an obituary John's older sister, for Eliza J VanGilder Jenkins.  A newly added obituary mentions that Jacob and Sarah moved to Grafton, Taylor County, (West) Virginia in 1858 and the VanGilder house is the one where Eliza and her husband, Frank Jenkins lived.   

     The majority of the VanGilder's lived in present day Marion County in the early 1800's and my belief is that Jacob and Sarah also lived there until Jacob's untimely death at age forty-two in 1840.  I question the 1858 year of Jacob, Sarah and family moving to Grafton.  Jacob died circa 1840.  Perhaps it was only Sarah with her three daughters.  My great great grandfather was employed and living in Morgantown by 1850.               

1850 (West) Virginia Census
Monongalia County
The Eastern District Number 36
August 23, 1850
           .  

     Twenty-one year old John O. VanGilder was enumerated with the family of Edward Hatfield on the 1850 census report.  He is listed as a chair maker as is Edward Hatfield.  The home is in the Eastern District of Monongalia County.

     John's obituary gave me a little insight into his early years.  He learned the trade of wheel-wright when a boy.  His father died when John was age eleven and perhaps he was apprenticed following his father's death and was able to help finance the family.  

     The 1850 census follows the obituary in that John then became a chair maker and perhaps he was employed with the Hennen Furniture Factory when he was enumerated.  The obituary lists a twenty year employment.  

American Union
Morgantown, (West) Virginia
March 24, 1863
page 3
    
     I was unaware that John was a Captain or served before the Civil War.  Perhaps it is the (West) Virginia militia.  
     

     While living and working in Morgantown, John met Mary Louise Hill, the daughter of Joseph Davidson Hill and Sarah Houston Hill.  On July 14, 1853 twenty-four year old John married twenty year old Mary.  The wedding was performed by The Reverend Dr Benjamin Ison a Methodist Episcopal Minister.  

American Union
Morgantown, (West) Virginia
October 1, 1863
page 3


American Union
Morgantown, (West) Virginia
Saturday, May 6 & 13, 1854

     During the 1850's John continued to be employed as a chairmaker in Morgantown.  Where they lived is unknown--whether in a house in Morgantown or perhaps in Mary's childhood home on the Joseph Davidson Hill farm.  The house was on Stewart Street located on a hill winding up from West Virginia University.   

     On November 11, 1854 John and Mary welcomed their firstborn, a daughter, Anna Bell VanGilder. Three years later a son, Jacob Young VanGilder was born on  July 12, 1857.  Winding out the 1850's decade of births, a second son, Joseph Hill VanGilder was born on November 23, 1858.  All were born in Monongalia County.

    
     It appears, from this advertisement in the Morgantown Weekly Post, that John now has his own shop to hand make wooden chairs.  He also does odd jobs: house painting, and hauling wood, coal and goods for his customers.

     On August 23, 1859, Mary's father, Joseph Davidson Hill, died.  John O. VanGilder as one of the executors of the will.  One third of the estate went to Mary's mother, the remainder was divided among the seven Hill children.  Whether Mary received a dollar amount or land or both is unknown.  The land will come into question in 1865.  Mary is part of the transaction which is unusual in the 1860's for a married woman to be part of a land deal unless the land was partially hers.   

1860 (West) Virginia Federal Census
Monongalia County, District 2&3
Morgantown Post Office
September 8, 1860

John Vangilder, age 31, male, chairmaker, value of real estate $1,800,    value of personal estate $1,000, born in Virginia.

Mary         "      , age 26, female, born in Virginia.

Anna B.    "       , age 5, female, born in Virginia.

Jacob       "       , age 3, born in Virginia.

Joseph     "       , age 1, born in Virginia.

Matilda Calwell, age 30, domestic, born in Pennsylvania

Thomas Mosier, age 21, day laborer, born in Virginia.

     It is unknown whether the VanGilder's are living in Morgantown or are on the Hill Family land on a hill above the university.  From the 1859 advertisement, it appears that John has his own business in town and the family could be living in an apartment above the chair shop.  

     Additional questions, are the domestic and day laborer working for the VanGilder's or boarders?  

     John is doing well financially and perhaps the portion of Joseph Davidson Hill's estate given to Mary VanGilder is already part of the financial report.

     An important date on my family tree, January 27, 1861, the day my paternal great grandfather, George Ethelbert VanGilder, was born in Monongalia County, (West Virginia).  

     As (West) Virginia entered the Civil War, John O. VanGilder was called to service.  The West Virginia Archives online has been a wealth of knowledge to me regarding my paternal great great grandfather's service.

     
     On December 7, 1861, John O. VanGilder was unanimously elected Captain of Company 4 of the 76th Regiment of the Virginia Militia.  


     Two Captain John O. VanGilder hand written letters dated September 22, 1862, The first announcing the election of James A. Davis as First Lieutenant of the 76th Regiment, Virginia Militia and the second letter announcing the election of James N. Davis as Second Lieutenant of the 76th Regiment, Virginia Militia.  

     While serving, John and Mary added a second daughter to the VanGilder family.  Sally Ellsworth VanGilder was born on March 11, 1863 in Monongalia County, West Virginia.  

United States Civil War Draft Registration Records
West Virginia, Second Congressional District 

     This document is dated October, 1863 and John O. VanGilder a chairmaker, age 34, married and born in Virginia is eligible for military service.  Oddly, former military service is blank and yet there are numerous documents that John was already a Captain in the militia.  

     Muster Roll of Company C, 14th Regiment of the West Virginia Militia from August 4, 1864 to October 7, 1864 signed by Captain John O. VanGilder.

Section of the Muster Roll

       John O. VanGilder, Captain, amount due $40.00, area too light to read has to do with the time served which is listed above, one ration drawn each day, period paid for 1 month 20 days, pay per month $60.00, actual pay $40.00, retained pay, was paid 40 cents per day for use of a horse, balance paid $40.00.  Signed John O. VanGilder.

Atlas of Marion and Monongalia Counties
West Virginia
1888

     Following his service in the Civil War, John was back to his farm located on a hill north of the West Virginia University campus off  Stewart Street.  The family welcomed a fourth son, Robert Ross VanGilder on March 19, 1865.  

     It is interesting to me why parents gave certain names to their children. Regarding the middle names in this family There are the obvious and the questions.  Oliphant, Ethelbert and Ellsworth are mysteries.  Young, Hill and Ross are not.  As to the Ross middle name.  Mary's paternal aunt and my paternal great great great aunt married into the Ross family, Warwick Ross and Sarah Johnston Hill.

     Prior to May 8, 1865, John O VanGilder, owner of ninety-six acres of land near Morgantown executed a trust-deed conveying said land to John H. Hoffman as trustee to secure payment owed to Joseph Grubb for one thousand dollars with interestHoffman declined the offer at first then offered a second option.  John VanGilder was to give the land to Hoffman, who would pay the debt owed to Grubb.  Hoffman would collect 6 percent on the amount owed and also keep ten acres as a bonus.  John and Mary VanGilder agreed to this, conveyed the land to Hoffman on June 10, 1865 and Hoffman paid the debt to to Grubb amounting to one thousand one hundred twenty-four dollars and sixty-seven cents $1,124.67) on June 15, 1865.  

     There is no mention what my great great grandfather purchased from Joseph Grubb.  There are two Joseph Grubb's in the Morgantown area in 1860-1870, both are farmers with substantial land and resources.  My guess is that the purchase was land, perhaps the ninety-six acres that was put in the trust-deed.  

     The mistake made by John VanGilder was that he did not get a written statement, it was all done by a handshake.  This was certainly not unusual at this time; however, it left my great great grandfather open to usury by John Hoffman, and that is exactly what happened.  Stay tuned.

     On November 19, 1866, a daughter, Mary Francis "Fanny" VanGilder was born in Monongalia County, West Virginia.  

     Two years later on July 26, 1868, another daughter, Betty Levada VanGilder was born.   

     Back to the issue of debt on the land.  On January 4, 1869, Hoffman conveyed to VanGilder seventy-one acres retaining twenty-five instead of the ten acres originally agreed upon.  Hoffman told John that if he paid an additional four hundred and fifty dollars ($450.00) he would convey the additional fifteen acres to Mary VanGilder.  On February 8, 1870, the VanGilder's paid two hundred eighty-three dollars and 33 cents ($283.33) and the balance due ($166.66) in four years with interest).

      Lycurgus S. Hough became the trustee of this new indebtedness.  The VanGilder's were to pay $1,166.08 and $166.66 in four years.  

1870 West Virginia Census
Morgan Township, Monongalia County, West Virginia
June 25, 1870

     Vangilder, John O, age 41, male, white, farmer, value of real estate       $4,500, born in West Virginia, male citizen of US age 21 or more.

     Vangilder, Mary, age 38, female, white, keeping house, born in West Virginia.

     Vangilder, Anna B., age 15, female, white, at home, born in West Virginia.

     Vangilder, Jacob, age 12, male, white, at home, born in West Virginia.

     Vangilder, Joseph, age 10, male, white, at home, born in West Virginia.

     Vangilder, George, age 8, male, white, at home, born in West Virginia.
     
     Vangilder, Sallie, age 7, female, white, at home, born in West Virginia.

     Vangilder, Robert, age 5, male, white, at home, born in West Virginia.

     Vangilder, Fannie, age 2, female, white, at home, born in West Virginia.

1870 West Virginia Census
Morgan Township, Monongalia County, West Virginia
June 25, 1870

        Vangilder, Bettie, age 1, female, white, born in West Virginia

Back to Court

          On February 20, 1874, the indebtedness issue went to court after Hoffman and Hough advertised to sell John's land because they said $1,025 was till owed on the debt.  John had been paying on the debt over the four years. 

     In March 1877, a jury rendered a verdict that Hoffman's loan was usurious.  Hoffman moved to set aside the verdict and on September 15, 1879 a final decree was entered.  John O. VanGilder debt owed was only the $160.33. Which had already been paid.  Costs were decreed to John.  This case was still not over as Hoffman appealed the decrees of September 23, 1875, September term 1878 and September 15, 1879.

     Life on the VanGilder farm did not stand still during this decade.  Two additional daughters were born.  Lida Edna VanGilder was born on April 26, 1873 and Lena Gertrude on October 8, 1875 both on Monongalia County, West Virginia.  

1880 West Virginia Census
Morgan District, Monongalia County
June 3, 1880

Vangilder, John, white, age 52, married, farmer, born in Virginia

Vangilder, Mary, white, female, age 48, wife, married, housekeeper, born in Virginia

Vangilder, Anna, white, female, age 25, daughter, single, at home, born in Virginia

Vangilder, Jacob, white, male, age 22, son, at home, single, born in Virginia

Vangilder, Joseph, white, male, age 21, single, at home, attended school within the census year, born in Virginia

Vangilder, George, white, male, age 19, single, at home, attended school within the census year, born in Virginia

Vangilder, Sally, white, female, age 16, single, at home, attended school within the census year, born in West Virginia

Vangilder, Robert, white, male, age 14, single, at home, attended school within the census year, born in West Virginia

Vangilder, Fanny, white, female, age 13, single, at home, attended school within the census year, born in West Virginia

Vangilder, Bettie, white, female, age 11, single, at home, attended school within the census year, born in West Virginia

Vangilder, Emma, white, female, age 9, single, at home, attended school within the census year, born in West Virginia

Vangilder, Lida, white, female, age 6, single, at home, attended school within the census year, born in West Virginia

Vangilder, Lena, white, female, age 3, single, at home, attended school within the census year, born in West Virginia

     Unfortunately, there is no indication on the 1880 census as to the financial resources of those enumerated.  With John continuing to fight in court with John Hoffman regarding payment on a loan against a piece of his property, I would have liked to see his real estate and personal estate.

     John's mother, Sarah McElroy VanGilder, died on February 8, 1881 in Grafton, Taylor County, West Virginia at age eighty-three. 

Samuel T. Wiley, History of Monongalia County,
West Virginia

page 657

     Education was an important family value in the VanGilder home.  I have seen four of the children attended West Virginia University, one, Lida, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree.   John Oliphant VanGilder was elected to the the resident of the School Board and served in 1883.  His son, any my paternal great grandfather, George Ethelbert VanGilder, was elected Secretary of the School Board also in 1883.

Finally a verdict and the end to the financial usury issue

     While serving as president, the end finally came to the eighteen year financial issue involving John VanGilder and John Hoffman. On June 30, 1883 the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia declared that Hoffman's loan was usury.  Hoffman knew the land was worth more than the original loan and intended to sell it for much more.  My husband, an attorney, read the case and said, "It has the smell of usury on the part of Hoffman, all the way".  


       I wanted to add this description of my great great grandfather that was entered into the court document disparaging his character by  Hoffman and the men he called before the court.  Of course Hoffman was painted as a man of high regard.   

     This same year and a two months after the court's decision, the VanGilder's oldest child, Anna Bell VanGilder, died on August 4, 1883 at age twenty-eight in Monongalia County, West Virginia of heart disease.  I believe that Anna Bell is buried in the area or beside her brother Robert Ross VanGilder at Mount Union Cemetery.   It appears that her information is also on the tombstone with her brother.  

     Robert Ross VanGilder, the VanGilder's sixth oldest child died September 26, 1890 at age twenty-five from a fever.  He is buried at Mount Union Cemetery.  

     During the 1890 decade the VanGilder family celebrated numerous marriages and births of grandchildren.  Among them was the marriage of my paternal great grandparents, George Ethelbert VanGilder and Jessica Pool on October 28, 1891 and the birth of my paternal grandmother, Sarah Margaret VanGilder on March 2, 1898.

1900 West Virginia Census
That Part of Morgan District North of Decker's Creek
Monongalia County
June 11, 1900

NOTE:  Census enumerator is my paternal great grandfather and John and Mary VanGilder's son, George Ethelbert VanGilder.

VanGilder, John, head, white, male, born Feb 1830, age 70, married 52 years, born in West Virginia, both parents born in West Virginia, farmer, works all year, can read, write and speak English, owns his farm free of mortgage

VanGilder, Mary, wife, white, female, born Nov 1832, age 67, married 52 years, mother of 6 children, 6 children living, born in West Virginia, father born in West Virginia, mother born in Delaware, can read, write and speak English, no occupation. (Misunderstood the children question.  The VanGilder's had eleven children and two were deceased by 1900.  The children counted living in the home at the time of the enumeration was 6.  Strange that this was not answered correctly since the enumerator was one of their adult children).

VanGilder, Jacob Y., white, male, born July 1846, age 43, widow, born in West Virginia, both parents born in West Virginia, dairyman, worked all year, can read, write and speak English, rents a farm.

VanGilder, Mary F., white, female, born Sep 1866, age 33, single, born in West Virginia, both parents born in West Virginia, no occupation, can read, write and speak English.

VanGilder, Bettie L., white, female, born July 1868, age 31, single, born in West Virginia, both parents born in West Virginia, employed as a grocery clerk, worked all year, can read, write and speak English.   

VanGilder, Emma L., white, female, born Nov 1870, age 31, single, born in West Virginia, both parents born in West Virginia, employed as a teacher, employed all year, can read, write and speak English.

VanGilder, Lida E., white, female, born Apr 1872, age 27, single, born in West Virginia, both parents born in West Virginia, employed as a teacher, employed all year, can read, write and speak English.

VanGilder, Lena G., white, female, born Oct 1874, age 25, single, born in West Virginia, both parents born in West Virginia, employed as a grocery clerk, worked all year, can read, write and speak English.   

VanGilder, William E., Grandson, white, male, born Dec 1882, age 17, single, born in West Virginia, both parents born in West Virginia, employed as a farm laborer, worked all year, can read, write and speak English.   

VanGilder, John O. Ray, Grandson, white, male, born Feb 1890, age 10, single, born in West Virginia, both parents born in West Virginia, at school for 5 months, can read, write and speak English. 

VanGilder, Dwight, Grandson, white, male, born April 1895, age 5, single, born in West Virginia, both parents born in West Virginia.

Hill, Sophie, Sister in Law, white, female, born June 1820, 79 years old, single, born in West Virginia, both parents born in West Virginia, not employed, can read, write and speak English. (Sophie's mother was born in Delaware not West Virginia. Sophie and Mary are sisters.)

     According to the newspaper articles on the VanGilder farm fire and John's obituary, John Oliphant VanGilder suffered a stroke in June, 1902 that caused him to be an invalid.

     A horrifying evening for John and Mary.  On Monday, December 8, 1902, a fire swept through the VanGilder house destroying most of the contents.  No one was injured.  John, an invalid caused by a stroke several months earlier.  Although a fire alarm was sent, there were no water plugs near the house.  Of historic interest:  the house stood on the pioneer Hill Family property and was originally a log cabin that John updated in the late 1890's with a frame structure.  

      This having occurred, I am fortunate to have any VanGilder photographs.  Probably Hill Family memorabilia was also housed here and was destroyed. 


    
The Pittsburgh Press
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
February 15, 1904
page 7

     Thank goodness for obituaries.  It is only recently I found the second one in the Pittsburgh Press.  I was surprised to see it mentioned there.  As often happens, the two clippings, the one from the fire and the Morgantown obituary gave me insight into my paternal great great grandfather's life; however, it also caused some questions.

      He died in his home on Stewart Street (another house or was more of the destroyed house saved?) at 7:00 am on February 14, 1904 (Valentine's Day) at age seventy-four.  To date, I have not found a death record.  I learned about his employment over the years, that he was a member of the Presbyterian Church and belonged to the Monongalia Lodge 10 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellow for over forty years.  

     The obituary paints a picture of a man who was moral, respected, industrious and a good citizen.  I will also add here that the 1900 West Virginia census lists that he was not ignorant as he could read and write.  It certainly is not the picture painted of his character by John Hoffman in the court record of 1883.  

My photograph

        The funeral services were held in the VanGilder home on Tuesday, December 16, 1904 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Aaron Moore Buchanan of the Presbyterian Church officiating.  The funeral procession, probably by wagon, made its way north to Mount Union Cemetery.  The graveside services were under the auspices of Lodge 10, Independent Order of the Odd Fellows.  

     To date I have not found a will for John Oliphant VanGilder; however, Mary Hill VanGilder, his wife did have one.  I have a transcription of it on Flipside.  It outlines what VanGilder property and homes are left.  

 



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