Joseph Charles Frederick and Mary Betz Frederick are my maternal great great grandparents. There is not too much written about their lives other then the The Family of Joseph C Frederick and Mary Betz biography I posted on my genealogical website and updated in 2009 (old news). I have researched and learned additional information since then and fortunately, one of their children, William Jackson Frederick, was a prominent individual. His biographical information covers history for both the Frederick and Betz families.
There were two Frederick Families who were early settlers in Columbiana County, Ohio. Whether they were brothers or totally separate families, I have never figured out. Mine descends from Nicholas and Catherine Frederick. Additionally, many in both lines have the same first names. Talk about confusing. 😕
Children of Joseph Charles Frederick and Mary Betz Frederick
Joseph Charles Frederick, the son of Conrad Fredrick and Ann Brown Frederick, was born on June 4, 1808 in Pennsylvania. Known records show that the Fredericks had seven children and Joseph was the oldest. In going through records and documents, it appears that Joseph used his middle initial, Joseph C. Frederick, perhaps to distinguish himself from his paternal uncle, Joseph Frederick. I am also going to let the reader know that I have seen his middle name listed as "Charles" on various sites. I have no actual proof that this is true.
An early Ohio pioneer, Conrad purchased land in the north half of Section 1, Salem Township, Columbiana County Ohio in 1810. This land eventually became Washingtonville. (Horace Mack, History of Columbiana County, Ohio, 1879, page 235)
Conrad was a farmer and young Joseph was engaged with helping his father on the farm. At some point in his young life he began apprenticing under his paternal grandfather, Nicholas Frederick and paternal uncle and namesake, Joseph Frederick, as a cooper. He was engaged in a successful coopering business until his death.
On December 19, 1831, Joseph's father, Conrad Frederick died and willed his land to Joseph. Joseph was named administrator of the estate when it went to probate. There are numerous pages covering the extent of the estate and the sale of the personal and farm items.
I mentioned that Conrad's son Joseph, distinguished himself by including the middle initial "C" to his name. On one of the probate pages, the "C" looks to have been added after the fact.
Joseph C. Frederick was literate. Here is his signature and there are several pages in the probate record where he has listed items for sale.
On June 27, 1832, Joseph C. Fredrick was paid $130.00 from the estate for his administrative duties. (I am assuming that the money is in US currency in 1831-1833)
Joseph purchased numerous items from the estate sale. Among them are: 1 windmill, 1 tub, 1 saddle, 1 bridle, 1 jack-goat, 1 shovel, 2 goats, 3 cow chairs/ chains?, 3 Hotter chairs/chains?, harness, 20 bushels of rye, 109 bushels of oats, 1 log chain, 2 ploughs, 1 auger, 1 sickle, 1 axe, and 1 draw knife. There are some that I cannot read.
Tax records and the 1840 Ohio census show that Joseph stayed on the land his father willed to him. It is likely that he sold the land to his cousin Michael Frederick following the death of his mother Ann Brown Frederick. History books mention that it was Michael Frederick's land that became the town of Washingtonville.
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| Columbiana County, Ohio Marriage Records, # 3, Record # 34. |
At the age of twenty-six, Joseph Charles Frederick, on August 31, 1834, married twenty-three year old Mary "Polly" Betz in Columbiana County, Ohio. The marriage was performed by Jacob Roller, Justice of the Peace. Mary was the daughter of Urban Betz and Christina Kieffer. The Betz Family were also early Ohio pioneers. Unfortunately there is little information on the Frederick's married life. They raised nine children, two were twin boys. One twin was my maternal grandfather, Alfred F. Frederick.
Joseph and Mary lived on the willed property. He farmed and had his cooper business there. The birth records of the children begin listing Franklin Square, a town in Salem Township, as their birthplace beginning in 1839. Joseph probably decided his business would thrive in a larger town.
There is a tax record dated 1838 showing Joseph C. Frederick and his cousin Michael Frederick as property owners in Washingtonville, Salem Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.
? Lots 30
Out Lots 0
Value 156
State Canal 62 cents 46 ?
County School 78 cents
Roads 31 cents 20 ?
Township 23 cents 40 ?
Poor Tax 15 cents 60 ?
TOTAL $2. 10 and 60?
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| 1840 Ohio Census Washingtonville Salem Township & Green Township |
The boundary of the village of Washingtonville actually crosses into two different counties in Ohio. A portion is in Salem Township in Columbiana County and the other is in Green Township in Mahoning County. This census record is incorrectly housed at the end of the 1840 Washington Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.
Partially visible along the side of the page is that this record is for the two sections of Washingtonville. At the bottom is a total for Salem Township and Green Township.
Joseph C. Frederick is enumerated in the Salem Township section. His mother, Ann Brown Frederick is enumerated in the Green Township section.
Jos Frederick
2 males under age 5--Albert and Alfred
1 male age 30 and under 40--Joseph C. Frederick
1 female under age 5--Juliette Frederick
1 female age 5 and under 10--Melvina Frederick
1 female age 20 and under 30--Mary Betz Frederick
- Melvina Frederick born about 1835 in Salem Township, Columbiana County, Ohio and died before 1897.
- Albert Frederick born May 1, 1836 in Salem Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, died at age seventeen, 1853.
- Alfred F. Frederick born May 1, 1836 in Salem Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, died February 9, 1927 in Highland Park, Lake County, Illinois. Married Lucinda Bell Orr on October 22, 1868 in Columbiana County, Ohio. My maternal great grandparents.
- Juliette E. Frederick born May 20, 1839 in Franklin Square, Salem Township, Columbiana County, died May 28, 1915 in Salem Township, Columbiana County, Ohio. Married Henry Sheets December 1, 1856 in Columbiana County, Ohio.
- Isabelle "Belle" Frederick born July 23, 1841 in Franklin Square, Salem Township, Columbiana County, February 28, 1917 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. Married Jesse Warrington on September 25, 1873 in Columbiana County, Ohio.
- Isaiah Frederick born 1843, in Franklin Square, Salem Township, Columbiana County, died before 1897.
- William Jackson Frederick born August 22, 1845 in Franklin Square, Salem Township, Columbiana County, died on October 3, 1910 in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana. Married first, Emma Hipkins on November 10, 1872 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Married second, Mary Mace Paxton on November 17, 1897 in Richland County, Ohio.
- Mary Ann Frederick born in 1848 in Salem Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, died at age sixteen in 1864.
- Joseph Charles Frederick, Jr. born April 15, 1853 in Franklin Square, Salem Township, Columbiana County, died on December 31, 1927 in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida. Married first, Barbara LaRue Bossert on July 24, 1879 in Columbiana County, Ohio. Married second, Emma L. Constans in 1921.
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| This daguerreotype is missing the front of the case. The back of the case is leather. |
Who the heck are these people? I have tried to figure it out for decades. This daguerreotype was among the personal effects of my maternal grandmother, Martha Marie Frederick Stark, born in 1880 in Columbiana County, Ohio. I would figure it is a close relation to Teek (my nickname for this grandmother), otherwise why would she keep it for decades. Originally it probably belonged to her mother or her father. These daguerreotypes became popular in the 1850's. It could be Joseph Charles Frederick and Mary Betz Frederick, Teek's paternal grandparents. Or Teek's maternal grandmother, Nancy Agnes Cannon Orr McCormick and an unknown man. My grandmother would have known both of her grandmothers since all lived within close proximity of each other in Columbiana County, Ohio.
My leap of faith here, is that these could be Joseph Charles Frederick and Mary Betz Frederick. Joseph died before my grandmother was born. I guess another question here is, when did Joseph actually die? There is an accepted date of 1853; however, I have never seen any death record or a tombstone with the information. My understanding, is that Joseph had a financially successful business and these folks are certainly well dressed. You will notice that there is actually a bit of blush on the cheeks. 😄
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| A Union Case made from sawdust and a glue-like maternal and pressed into a mold |
Here we go again. Another daguerreotype, this one in a union case. The man appears to be the same man as in the other daguerreotype, except with a beard. Enlarging the photo, both men have a small pinky ring on their right hand. I did remove the daguerreotype from the case and underneath was the studio.
HOLMES, BOOTH AND HAYDENS'
DAGUERROTYPE,
PHOTOGRAPHIC
AND
Ambrotype Goods
Of every description.
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| 1850 Ohio Census Salem Township, Columbiana County September 19, 1850 |
Joseph C. Frederick, age 42, male, cooper, born in Pennsylvania, can read and write.
Mary Frederick, age 40, female, born in Ohio, cannot read or write.
Malvenia Frederick, age 16, female, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.
Albert Frederick, age 15, male, cooper, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.
Alfred Frederick, age 15, male, cooper, born in Ohio, attended school within the year
Juletta Frederick, age 12, female, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.
Isabel Frederick, age 9, female, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.
Isiah Frederick, age 7, male, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.
William Frederick, age 5, male, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.
Mary A. Frederick, age 3, female, born in Ohio.
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| Photograph from Find A Grave |
It seems to be an accepted fact that on June 3, 1853, at the age of forty-five, Joseph Charles Frederick died at Franklin Square, Salem Township, Columbiana County, Ohio. To date I have not found any death record. He was buried in the cemetery outside Trinity Lutheran Church, Washingtonville, Mahoning County, Ohio. Joseph's parents and grandparents are also buried in the cemetery. Unfortunately, many of the older grave markers were destroyed, Joseph's was one of them.
Also, in 1853, Albert Frederick, son of Joseph C. and Mary Betz Frederick died at age seventeen. The date and place of burial are unknown.
Life as a Widow
Mary age forty-one, now a widow, had a month and a half year old baby son, as well as the other children still living at home. Fortunately, her older daughters were at home to assist her.
My maternal great grandfather, Alfred Frederick, may have continued to run the family business following his father's death. Whether his younger brother's apprenticed as coopers is unknown. By 1860, Alfred had moved to Attica, Ohio.
Daughter, Juliette married Henry Sheets on December 18, 1856. The Sheets stayed in Columbiana County.
Mary Betz Frederick continued to make her home in Franklin Square.
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| 1860 Ohio Census Franklin Square, Salem Township Columbiana County July 30, 1860 |
Mary Frederick, age 47, female, born on Pennsylvania.
Isabel Frederick, age 18, female, born in Ohio.
Mary A. Frederick, age 13, female, born in Ohio, attending school.
William Frederick, age 15, male, born in Ohio, attending school.
Joseph Frederick, age 9, male, born in Ohio, attending school.
Like so many mothers, Mary had a son, William Jackson Frederick, who served in the Civil War from 1861 to 1864.
A second child, Mary Ann Frederick, died on November 20, 1864 in Columbia County, Ohio. She was sixteen. Her cause of death and place of burial is unknown.
My maternal great grandfather, Alfred Frederick, age thirty-two married Lucinda Bell Orr, age twenty-four on October 22, 1868 in Columbiana County, Ohio.
Two children, Melvina Frederick and Isiah Frederick, are not listed on the census. Either they have died, married or moved to another location. There are some researchers who do not believe that Melvina was the daughter of Joseph and Mary. Perhaps a niece who was enumerated with the family in 1850.
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| 1870 Ohio Census Franklin Square, Salem Township Columbiana County July 5, 1870 |
Isabel Frederick, age 28, female, white, keeping house, born in Ohio.
Mary Fredrick, age 59, female, white, value of real estate $800.00, born in Pennsylvania.
Joseph Frederick, age 17, male, white, laborer, born in Ohio.
In 1860 Mary is living in the Fredrick home with two adult children. Son Joseph is supporting the family.
During the decade three of her children married.
William Jackson Frederick married Emma Hipkins on November 10, 1872 in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Isabelle Frederick married Jesse Warrington on September 5, 1873 in Columbiana County.
Joseph Charles Frederick, Jr. married second cousin, Barbara LeRue Bossert July 24, 1879 Columbiana County.
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| 1880 Ohio Census Centre Township, Columbiana County June 4 & 5, 1880 |
Once all the children married and left the family home, Mary moved to the farm of her daughter and son-in-law in Centre Township.
Henry Sheets, white, male, age 45, married, fam laborer, cannot read or write, born in Ohio, both parents born in New Jersey
Julia Sheets, white, female, age 40, married, keeping house, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ohio.
Ida M. Sheets, white, female, age 17, daughter, at home, born in Ohio, Father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Ohio.
Mary Frederick, white, female, age 68, mother-in-law, widowed, retired, born in Ohio, both parents born in Pennsylvania.
Numerous family stories have a twenty year gap due to the missing 1890 census. I have not found any newspaper articles to fill in the gaps. I assume, Mary Betz Frederick remained at her daughter's farmhouse throughout the remainder of her life. I am certain my maternal grandmother visited her Aunt Julia's often and spent time with her Grandmother Frederick.
Trains crisscrossed the nation and additional Frederick family undoubtedly visited the Columbiana County family. My grandmother lived there until about 1897. I have old photographs from her estate of her with other same age girls--all unmarked. Perhaps her Frederick cousins.
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| Garrett, Indiana Newspaper 1896 |
A very informative newspaper article regarding the family of Mary Betz Frederick gathering for a ten day holiday at Oakwood Park, Lake Wawasee, Indiana on August 27, 1896. Following the vacation, Mary and her daughter, Juliette Frederick Sheets, went to Mary's son's home in Garrett for several months.
On September 24, 1898, Mary Betz Fredrick died at age eighty-seven in her home, Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio. The obituary lists that she will be buried in Washingtonville; however, she was buried in Franklin Square Cemetery, Franklin Square, Salem Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.
I visited Franklin Square Cemetery in 2008. Mary has a sizable grave marker. As you can see the large area is surrounded by a cement brick wall. The other tombstone belongs to T.A. Martin. I have no idea who that is. Mary and Joseph had several of their children die and I have wondered if their remains are buried in this plot without the benefit of a marker. Or perhaps the markers did not survive over the century.
As with numerous family blogs I have written, I always seem to have more questions than answers. I can't remember either of my grandmothers ever sharing any family history. Research is fine; however adding some personal story or one passed down breathes life into the blog.
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Acknowledgements are always due when working on genealogy. It is usually a shared compilation of research. For my Frederick Family there were two distant cousins who I would like to acknowledge. Ted Frederick who back in 1997, sent me old hand written Frederick Family charts and and in 2001, Dr. Charles Frederick Abell who shared numerous newspaper articles regarding his paternal great grandfather, William Jackson Frederick. Many had references to the entire family of Joseph Charles and Mary Betz Fredrick. And histories of both the Frederick and Betz families. Also in 1997, Chery Guirreri, a fellow Frederick researcher added additional history for the Columbiana surname.
Updated: March 21, 2023
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