Week 9 "At the Courthouse"

Daniel Hutchison

Born 30 June, 1784 in Pennsylvania

Died 10 March, 1869 in Exline, Iowa

My 4x Great Grandfather
1st wife Nancy Armstrong
2nd wife Rebecca Caster (my 4x great grandmother)

(Mom's Mom's side)

I became interested in Daniel many years ago when we were visiting his tombstone one Memorial Day weekend. I realized that he was my 4x great grandfather. At the time I was just getting interested in genealogy and I was just starting to wrap my head around that I was visiting such a distant relatives grave. At that time he was probably the oldest relative I had visited or remembered visiting and I became interested in learning more about him.

So I took first to Ancestry where I found a document someone had done for their family history and it mentioned that Daniel was the first sheriff of Holmes County Ohio. Wow that's a cool thing I thought. So I started searching for more resources to prove that. We happened to be in a genealogy library in Princeton Mo (the one I talked about a couple weeks ago) when I came across a book about Ohio history. I thought that might have some info on Holmes Co. Ohio. Sure enough it talked about Daniel and his brother William were crucial to the founding of Holmes county.



Holmes County Courthouse in Millersburg Ohio

For some reason I became really fascinated with Holmes Co and knew I had to go there some day! In 2017 I made the trip East and visited the beautiful county that my ancestors helped found.

 While I was there I had scheduled myself to be there when the Holmes County Genealogical Society was open to see if I could find documents pertaining to my ancestors. They happened to have many of the original early court documents at the Library. Since Daniel was the Sheriff he was involved with many court cases and his signature was on many papers. It was so neat seeing his signature on these original documents that he would have touched!!! I'm mad at myself because I can't find where I put those papers!! I scanned probably 50 pages of documents from that day. Daniel didn't get to see the courthouse built in the photo above he would have been in the 1st courthouse built in 1825 which was built at the same location where the present one stands. 

You can learn about the Holmes County courthouses from this VIDEO done by the Ohio Channel. 

After visiting the library I wanted to find Daniel's parent's graves and they were located in a town just north of Millersburg in Fredericksburg Ohio. There are 2 cemeteries in Fredericksburg the Old West Fredericksburg Cemetery and the East Fredericksburg Cemetery. It said they were buried in the West one so I started there. On the website there was a photo of the grave so I had an idea of what it looked like but I walked and walked and looked at every stone and couldn't find it. So I decided to check out the other one. Sure enough it was listed in the wrong cemetery!! But I found it and was so excited. Here were my 5x great grandparents.

James and Jane (Kelly) Hutchinson's tombstones

Jane (Kelly) Hutchinson's obituary I found just last week!!! 

As someone who loves wandering around cemeteries, the above photo was the view from the first cemetery I visited in Fredericksburg. Even though it didn't have the people who I was looking for the view was spectacular!!! Right in the middle of Amish farm country.

My connection to Daniel:

Daniel Hutchinson- 4 X Great Grandpa

Rebecca Hutchinson Withrow 3x Great Grandma

Louisa Withrow Walter- 2x Great Grandma

Mearl Walter- Great Grandpa

Carolyn Walter Van Dorin - Grandma

My Mom

Me 



Week 8 "Family Photo"

Conrad & Sarah Jane (Castleman) Kaster
Conrad Kaster: Born 1827 Kentucky Died 1900 Missouri
Sarah Jane Castleman: Born 1832 Kentucky Died 1917 Missouri
Married 30 October 1851 in Kentucky

A few years ago my cousin on my dad's side made contact with some distant cousins doing family research and they became fast friends. In the summer of 2016 my mom and I made a trip to east Missouri to meet up with these new cousins. We too became fast friends!! While we were on this trip we all wanted to go to the Schuyler Co. Historical society to do some digging on some relatives. I had never been to the museum but had been to the town many many times. It's a fabulous museum for the small size of the town and county it resides in. The historical society does an amazing job of keeping it up and helping out anyone who's doing research. 

While doing some digging we came across this article donated to the Museum by Mrs. Edith Alexander Dufur describing my 4x great grandfathers house in Schuyler Co.

"An Ancient Landmark Has Passed into Oblivion."

The Kaster house, known by almost everyone in Schuyler County at least. It was the home of Conrad and Sarah Jane Castleman Kaster and their family of 16 children. Conrad was born in Hardin, Co, Kentucky on January 26, 1827 and died May 7, 1900. 

When a young man, with 2 or 3 others, rode horses west from Kentucky seeking good farming land. When they reached the land what is east of what is now Queen City (Missouri), they rode through the bluegrass almost as high as the horses backs and prairie chickens and quail were everywhere; also pheasants. Mr Kaster said, "This is God's country, let us look no farther." So they entered land from the US government and began plans for a settlement. 

Conrad returned to Kentucky, married his childhood sweetheart and came to what is now Schuyler Co. to begin a life in a virgin land. A log cabin sufficed at first. The lumber was brought from as far as Quincy, Illinois, by horse and wagon to build the large 2 story, 8 room house, much like a Kentucky mansion in design. 

Mr Kaster became a race horse breeder and farmed extensively. He built a race track on his own farm which was the focal gathering point for the young men on Sunday afternoons. 

In this family were born 4 sets of twins. The first issue were still-born twins. One smaller Florence died at about 2 and a half years of age. The parents were survived by 35 grandchildren and 46 great grandchildren. They lived on the same farm continuously for 45 years and at present (no date give) is owned by a relative. 

By religious belief they were Baptist, being members of the South Prairie Baptist Church, located on their farm and which they helped build. Memorial services for Conrad Kaster were conducted by J. A. Minter and services for "Granny" Kaster were conducted by Rev. TB Ritzinger on March 29, 1917. The Meyers Cemetery was chosen for their last resting place. 

The fine old Kaster House was unoccupied for several years and was obliterated in 1981 by a planned fire.

After reading that article we had so hoped we could have seen a photo of the house. It apparently was known by many around. But we left empty handed.

Fast forward to the next year about the same time. Myself and the same cousins all met up again for a special celebration the museum was having. They were doing different demonstrations and giving talks and we wanted to do more research. The lady in charge of the museum happened to over hear one of the family names we were discussing, Kaster, and she said "Oh I think there's a Kaster photo somewhere around here hanging on the wall." My cousin and I got all excited and set out looking for this photo. 

SURE ENOUGH!!!! Hanging on the wall as your going up the staircase was the photo above with a note by it saying "Conrad Kaster family in front of the family home". My cousin and I were, to say the least, THRILLED!!!! We asked if we could take the photo down and make copies and take photos of it. Luckily we were able too!!

It was so amazing to come back and actually find a photo of not only the house but of the WHOLE FAMILY!!!! Talk about a wonderful surprise. It was so nice to have the photo and the article to go with it and it's one of my favorite "Family Photos" that I have of my ancestors. 

Conrad and Sarah Jane Kaster are my 4x Great grandparents on my dad's mom's dad's side of the family. 

Here is a photo of Conrad and Sarah Jane with their child Elizabeth. 

Another family photo of the Kasters 

A land grant record of purchasing his land 

Conrad & Sarah Jane's grave in Meyer's Cemetery 

My Connection:

Conrad & Sarah Jane Kaster

Philip Kaster 3x Great grandfather

Maude Kaster Ertel 2x Great grandmother

William Ertel Great Grandfather

My Grandma

My Dad

Me

"Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future. We make discoveries about ourselves."  ~Gail Lumet Buckley

Week 7 "Love"

Sylvan and Carolyn Van Dorin

William Sylvan Van Dorin born March 30, 1919 Died Dec 30, 2000

Carolyn Marie Walter born October 5, 1927 and Died June 26, 2015

My Maternal Grandparents

 

This week the prompt was love and the first couple that came to mind was my maternal grandparents Sylvan and Carolyn Van Dorin. Although my grandpa passed away when I was young, looking at photos of the two of them and reading letters they wrote to each other there was no doubt that these two were in love. 

Their love story began in rural Iowa. They grew up on farms close to each other. During the early years of their relationship my grandmother was in high school and my grandfather in the service serving during WW2. So they wrote letters back and forth to each other. 

My grandmas sister told me a story that my grandpa was notoriously late and one evening he was supposed to pick my grandma up but was so late that she gave up on him and went to bed. When he arrived to pick her up her mother told him that she'd gone to bed and that he was too late!! I'm thankful that wasn't a deal breaker! 

Another fun story we found in a letter from my grandpas Aunt Flora to my grandpa when he was in the service. In the letter my grandmas Aunt writes that my grandma had stayed with her and said that she claimed my grandpa as her own but then mentioned that another young lady in town also thought that grandpa was hers too!! I wish I could go back and ask what made him choose my grandma over the other young lady. But whatever it was i'm glad he chose her! 

Sylvan and Carolyn were married on April 28, 1946 at the Grace United Methodist Church in Moravia Iowa. To this union they had 3 daughters, 3 granddaughters, and 2 great grandsons. They lived most of their lives in the town of Moravia and were very active in their community. 

For 33 years they owned and operated Van Dorin Implement where they sold Allis Chalmers tractors and equipment and home appliances. 

They were honored as Moravia Fall festival King and Queen. 

All together they celebrated 54 years together above is them pictured at their 50th anniversary. 

A couple of pot holders my grandma made. 

"I've got Ewe under my skin"

"Owl be yours forever"

For 15 years they were separated after my grandpa passed away but I know that they are together again watching over all of us in heaven. Thank you both for showing us all how to love.

 "Being a family you are a part of something wonderful. It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life. No matter what!"

Week 6 "Surprise"

John Cahuac

 Born: 1771 in London, England

Died: 1832 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

**Possible** 5x Great grandfather on my dad's dad's side

Wife: Mary ? (1770-1827)

More recently I've been seeing more information and hearing stories about the English transport of convicts to Australia. It's something that's somewhat fascinated me. Well just a couple days ago I found a photo of my 4 x great grandmother Elizabeth (Cahuac) Barnes that I hadn't seen before. It was actually a really neat photo of her in Mourning of her husband Samuel. I want to wait and share the photo another time. But it encouraged me to do some more digging on Elizabeth and her family. Well on Ancestry it popped up with hints for possible parents for Elizabeth so I bit and up pops John and Mary Cahuac. 

Like Elizabeth it showed that they were born in London, England but they both died in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. WHAT!! Total surprise!!! This was the first time i'd seen anyone in my family tree end up in Australia. Then I instantly thought about what I've learned about British people who ended up in Australia. Uh OH!! So I started looking at some of the hints and what do I find.... England and Wales Criminal Registry...... Convict Ship Muster Rolls..... well looks like he was a criminal! This was a surprise for sure. He's the first real criminal that I've found in my tree also. 

So now I wanted to see what he did and how he ended up in Australia. So the first document I look at was the "England and Wales Criminal Registry 1791-1892". I know you can't read it from the photo below but I just wanted to show the document. Next to John's name it says:

 "Receiving Stolen Goods....Age 49......14 years." 

Hmm. What does that mean? Receiving stolen goods? So I looked at some of the other documents and found a document on a website that actually has the notes from his court case and describes all about what he did. 

The gist of the story is that a man by the name of Thomas Beeman stole books from one store, then John Cahuac received the books knowing that they were stolen goods and selling them in his store. Not as juicy as say murder but apparently enough of a crime to receive a sentence to be transported to Australia and serve 14 years. Thomas Beeman only received Transport to Australia and 7 years. 

The document above shows that John arrived in Australia in 1823 and came aboard the ship Phoenix.

I'm having some reservations on weather John is for sure my ancestor due to lack of proof but I though this story was definitely a neat one that should be shared either way. Learning about him and his life was definitely a surprise!! I'm hoping to do more research to pin down if he truly is Elizabeth's father. 

Week 5 "Library"

I've been interested in genealogy now for a few years and for the first part of my genealogy journey most of the information I had gotten came from either the internet or from family members. It made me feel like a phony in a way. I know that, yes, the internet can be a good place to find things now since more and more information is online. But I had heard many stories of my cousins and aunts visiting libraries and historical societies and writing letters to places far away and having documents sent back to them. I often felt like I wasn't a real genealogist because I hadn't done any of those things yet. But I was just using the resources available to me at the time.

It wasn't until 2016, I think, that my mom and I visited, in one weekend, 2 different genealogy libraries and probably 20 cemeteries. After that I finally felt like a true genealogist!! Finally being able to find hard copy proof of certain ancestors was just so much fun and very addicting!! The digging through pages and books, and hoping that what your looking for is on the next page!!

The first library we visited was in Mercer County Missouri where my dad's dad's mom's family, the Overton's, had lived. While my mom and I were at the library we were in this little room lined with books looking through obituaries and all sorts of documents trying to find info on the Overton's but not finding much.

Before we left we spoke with a librarian and she asked what the family name we were looking for and we told her. It turned out the entire time we were there she was making photo copies of a book for someone else and it was "The Overtons of Anderson County Tenneessee and their Cox cousins". We couldn't believe it! That was THE book we needed to see too!! But we had to leave to meet some cousins and didn't have time to stay to make copies ourselves. I'm hoping to go back some day and get copies of that book. I was able to find some info from a book called "Pioneer's Book, Mercer Co"

The Moses Overton family originated from Anderson County Tennessee but made there way to Missouri. They knew the Civil war was about to break out and Moses strongly opposed slavery and wanted to move to a Union state and had heard good things about the Missouri farmland. He sold his land and his distillery for $300 and in October of 1851 he and his wife and 10 of their children left for Missouri. They traveled with either horses or oxen and the family walked. They purchased 30 acres of land for $1.50 an acre just east of the Tennessee Cemetery in Mercer Co. Missouri.

Moses Overton and his Brothers. John, James, and Alfred all stayed and died in Anderson County Tennessee. 

One cool thing about the Overton's is that once they got to Missouri they didn't move around a lot, at least my direct ancestors. Within Mercer County and the county to the East of there, Putnam County, I have 5 generations of direct descendants of that line buried close together!!

My great grandmother Stella Marie (Overton) Mullins (Putnam Co.)

My 2x Great Grandfather Frank Overton (Putnam Co.)

My 3 x Great Grand parents Lucy and William Overton (Putnam Co.)

My 4 x Great Grandfather Enoch Overton (Mercer Co.)

My 5x Great Grandfather Moses Overton (Mercer Co.)

During the Civil war Moses and his sons Enoch, Alexander, and Joseph all enlisted in the war and served. Moses for 6 months and Enoch for 3 years. In records I've found online it said that Enoch joined as a Corporal in Co. G. 3rd Missouri State Militia Calvary on April 4th 1862 at Chillicothe Missouri. His father Moses Joined the same company on the same day. I found where it said that Enoch was utilized as a Teamster. In one Document I found on Fold3 it said that his horse was once captured by the enemy while they were in action in Warsaw Missouri!!

Document telling about his horse getting captured from fold3.com 

Pvt Alexander Overton joined the Co. D., 44th MO infantry. 

Alexander Overton's tombstone in the Tennessee Cemetery in Mercer Co. Missouri. 

From the Find a Grave page for Joseph Overton. It said he enlisted in the Co. F. 8th Iowa Cavalry on June 24th 1863. He was severely wounded and taken prisoner on October 30th 1864 at Florence, AL. He was released but later died from his wounds. He is buried in Kentucky at Cave Hill National Cemetery. 

Joseph's widow Elizabeth pension file discussing him being wounded in battle. 

Joseph's Tombstone

It's one thing to read about and watch movies about the Civil war. But to put it into context with your own relatives is amazing and makes it all the more real! I enjoyed learning about the Overton family and their dedication of service to our country. Plus they had such a conviction against slavery that they left everything they knew to avoid fighting for something they didn't believe in. 

Since that first day at the Mercer Co Library I've been to several other libraries and LOVE combing through books and articles and looking at microfilm to find that next piece of information to add to the family tree. 





Week 4 "I'd Like to Meet"

Not going to lie but I had a whole blog post wrote up for this week but I scrapped it last minute. This was a HARD topic to write about. Not that I couldn't think of someone I'd like to meet but rather the opposite. For me learning about all these people who were crucial to my existence it's hard not to want to meet them all!! The post I scrapped I limited myself to listing 10 people who I would love to have met. But the more I thought about it 2 really stuck in mind that I've thought many a time that I'd like to have known them when they were alive and that's my great grandparents. (My Mom's Mom's Parents)

Mearl & Blanche (Miner) Walter

Mearl Everett Walter was born February 22nd, 1890 in Appanoose County Iowa, near Exline, to Edward and Louisa (Withrow) Walter. He had 8 brothers and sisters. Maude, Zella, Grace, Virgil, Emil, Clovie, Lawrence, and Edna. 

Mearl with his parents and siblings.

Blanche Miner was born September 7th, 1891 in Appanoose County Iowa, near Dean, to Frank and Katie (Slavin) Miner. She had 3 sisters Cleo, Marie, and Edna and 1 living half sibling, a brother, Walter. 

Grandma Blanche with her family. 

Grandma Blanche with her Sisters

They were married on August 30th, 1908 at the home of the Justice of the Peace. To this union came 10 children. Zola, Loren "Bud", Oraleta, Maxine, Aubrey "Short", Maurice "Friz", Elouise, Mearl Dean, Carolyn (My Grandmother), and Annabelle. Unfortunately they faced tragedy with the loss of 3 of their children Zola age 18, Oraleta age 17, and Mearl Dean age 4, all within the span of 3 years.  I can't fathom that kind of pain and tragedy all while still raising 6 other children including a brand new baby born in the midst of 2 of the losses.

Taken at their 60th Wedding Anniversary

For most of their lives Mearl and Blanche lived on a farm only moving to town in their later years. Since they rented most of their land they moved around quite a bit but mostly around Appanoose County. My great grandparents were also very skilled in growing a huge garden every year. One of their specialties was watermelons. Which is the theme for our Family Reunions every year. My Great Grandpa would enter his fruits and vegetables in the Moravia Fall Festival every year. My great grandma would enter baked and canned goods. Both earned many a blue ribbon over the years! My grandma, great aunts and uncles, and cousins have carried on the traditions of entering in the fall festival. A couple years ago I even entered some items! The fall festival was always a big deal for my great grandparents and family.

Grandpa Mearl with his Sheep

Grandpa Mearl with his Mules

The family with the prize watermelons! 

My great grandmother was also well known for her cooking! She was known for her homemade noodles, popcorn balls, cookies and more. She grew Christmas Cacti that i'm sure half a dozen or more people have a descendant of!! I've also been lucky enough to find a quilt that she quilted that my 2x great grandmother Louisa Walter pieced. My mom and I also found a quilt that she and the Walnut City Churches Ladies Aid quilted. We found the block with her name on it. 

Several years ago some of Mearl and Blanches descendants made 2 different books. 1 cataloging the family genealogy and the other a collection of stories that each child and grandchild wrote their memories about Mearl and Blanche and their childhood. I LOVE reading the stories that everyone wrote because every single person shared how wonderful these 2 people were and the great love that was given to all. My mom often tells about Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Walter's, saying it was always a wonderful occasion. The house they lived in may not have been very big with all those kids, grand kids, and great grand kids piled in but it was so full of love and happiness and everyone always had a spot either around the table on the stairs or even under the table!!

That's what makes me a little sad that I missed out knowing these 2 wonderful people while they were alive. I know without a doubt that I would have loved visiting them and learning from them. But I'm lucky that the love that they shared has been passed down and their legacy has lived on through their children and now grandchildren and great grandchildren.

This was an excerpt from the book my Aunt and Cousin did and I absolutely love it. 

Christmas 1967

This was taken at their 60th Wedding Anniversary

Mearl Walter passed away at the age of 85 on February 11th, 1976.

Blanche Walter Passed away at the age of 99 on Feburary 26, 1991. Just 6 months shy of her 100th birthday.

I know that they would be proud of our family. Even though we are scattered across this country we still come together and stay in touch. I hope that we will be able to continue that in the coming years!