Bernard Emmanuel "Emil" Garman (1858-1932)

Today I am switching from my wife's family over to mine. I joke about her family being world travelers and having all sorts of great adventures while my family were German farmers who immigrated to Ohio and stayed there. So, here goes the exciting life of a German farmer named Emil Garman, my great-grandfather.

Emil Garman was born 23 December 1858 in Halverde, Westfalen, Germany to Johann Clemens Van Lay and Anna Maria Theresia Garmann. When Johann married Anna Maria on 3 October 1848, he took the Garmann name because Anna had inherited the family property. Johann and Anna had 9 children in addition to Emil. They were as follows: Heinrick Clemens (1849-1900), August Gerhard (1851-1928), Johann Josef (1853-?), Reverend Frantz Ignatz (1856-1934), Theodore Johann (1861-1932), Clemens Herman (1864-1891), Reverend Bernhard Johann (1866-1954), Wilhelm Gerhard (1870-1923), and Maria Josefa (1874-1891). The Rev. Franz Ignatz Garman settled in Meyersville, DeWitt County, Texas while his brother, the Rev. Bernhard Johann Garmann settled in Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas.

According to his obituary, Emil immigrated to the United States in 1882. An Emanuel Garmann is listed in the New York Passenger Lists as arriving on 19 June 1882 in New York aboard the ship Edam which departed from Amsterdam, Netherlands and Boulogne Sur Mer, France. His country of origin is listed as Germany. During this period, many German immigrants made their way to the fertile lands of Ohio down the Ohio River to Cincinnati. After arriving in Cincinnati, he continued north to the area of Mercer County and settled in one of the small Catholic communities which had developed throughout the area. He became a naturalized citizen in 1885. He married Anna Marie Heitman on 2 February 1887. Anna Marie was born in the small community of Egypt, Auglaize County, Ohio, on 1 January 1866. Her parents were Bernard and Maria Anna (Rolfes) Heitmann. However Anna died three months after their marriage.

Emil and Mary Garman

On 25 April 1888, he married Mary Angela Mescher. They were married in St. Rose, Mercer County, Ohio. Mary was born 3 January 1869 in St. Rose to Johann Heinrick and Maria Catherine (Leugers) Mescher. This union resulted in 15 children: Frances Theresa (1889-1949), Anna Mathilda (1890-1890), August Bernard (1892-1962), Rosa Carolina (1893-1972), Florentine (1894-1974), Edward Herman (1896-1962), Aloys Bernard (1898-1957), Marie (1899-1976), Josephina Rosa (1901-1984), Bertha Joanna Elizabeth (1903-1997), Ida Emma (1905-1987), Lawrence (1907-1975), Alvina (1910-1984), Marcella (1912-1999), and Velma Catherine (1915-2011).

In the 1900 US Census for Chickasaw, Marion Township, Mercer County, Ohio, Emil (age 41) is listed as having immigrated from Germany in 1881. His occupation is listed as farmer and he rents his home. His wife Mary (age 31) is listed as having had 8 children, of which 7 are still living. The children listed in the home are: Francis (age 11), August (age 8), Rosie (age 7), Florentine (age 5), Edward (age 3), Aloys (age 2) and Mary (age 8 months).  In addition to the family, John Gehle, a farm hand is listed as boarding in the house.

By 1910 the family had moved to German Township, Auglaize County, Ohio. They lived on Amsterdam Pike. Emil (age 51), Mary (age 41) and ten of their eleven children are living in the home. Frances had married Henry John Vagedes in 1909 and had moved to their home in Marion Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The remaining children were August (age 18), Rosa (age 16), Florentine (age 15), Edward (age 13), Aloys (age 12), Mary (age 10), Josephine (age 8), Bertha (age 6), Ida (age 4), and Lawrence (age 2). Emil is listed as a farmer while his son August is listed as a farm laborer.

In 1920 the family was living on Township Road in German Township, Auglaize County, Ohio. At this time Emil had paid off the mortgage on his home. The family consisted of Emil (age 61), his wife Marie (age 51), and their children: August (age 28), Marie (age 20), Eida (age 14), Larence (age 12), Alvina (age 9), Marcella (age 7), and Velma (age 4 years 10 months). It's interesting to notice the spellings of the names during this census. Emil is still listed as a farmer and August is a farm laborer on the family farm. On 20 April 1920 the Garman family celebrated a quadruple wedding. Three sons, August, Alois and Ed, along with one daugther, Mary, were wed at St. John's Church in Maria Stein. Emil's brothers, Father Bernard and Father Frank, performed the ceremony. It appears that Emil retired from farming around 1922.

The 1930 census indicates that the family had moved off the farm and back to Marion Township, Mercer County, Ohio. It appears that August may be living on the family farm but I have not confirmed that. Emil is 71 years old at this time and is doing odd jobs to earn money. His wife, Mary, is 61 years old. Bertha (age 26) and Lawrence (age 22) are living in the home and working in a factory. The remaining children living at home are Alvina (age 19), Marcella (age 18) and Velma (age 15).

During the fall of 1931 Emil contracted gangrene in his right foot as a result of his diabetes, which he had for about 10 years. The gangrene had begun to spread and he was admitted to the hospital for treatment. He would have been 73 years old at the time. While at the hospital he underwent surgery to amputate his right leg in a final attempt to save his life. However, he was in a weakened state due to his age and extended illness. Emil died on 18 January 1932 in St. Elizabeth Hospital, Dayton, Ohio. He had been in the hospital for three days. His body was handled by N. J. Hogenkamp Funeral Home. The funeral services were performed by Rev. J. O. Missler and he was buried in St. John Cemetery, Maria Stein, Mercer County, Ohio on 21 January 1932. Emil was known for his jovial disposition and was well liked in his community. His wife, Mary, lived until 19 June 1951. She is also buried in St. Johns Cemetery.

In June 1934, the heirs of Emil's estate were taken to court by Aetna Life Insurance Company. I haven't been able to find the details of this case yet but the plaintiff brought the suit against the estate for $6,022.31.

James Franklin Coker (1836-1899)

Look at that, two days in a row. I am on a hot streak now as I continue to post for the February Family History Writing Challenge. Today's story is about my wife's 3rd great-grandfather James Franklin Coker.

James Franklin Coker

James Franklin Coker was born on 12 March 1836 in Upson County, Georgia. His parents were Henry (1797-1863) and Nepsey (Wilson) Coker (b. abt 1813). James was the fifth of ten children. His siblings included Rebecca, Millie Evaline, Nancy, Isaac, Elizabeth, William, Orphy Jane, Louisa, and Francis Coker. The area where James grew up had been the territory of the Creek Indians up until the mid 1820s when the Treaty of Indian Springs relocated them to the west of the Mississippi River.

The 1840 US Census for District 588, Upson County, Georgia, lists two adults and 6 children living in the household. Three members of the family were employed in agriculture. James would have been 4 years old at the time of this census. The other children would be Rebecca (age 12), Millie (age 10), Nancy (age 9), Isaac (age 5), and Elizabeth (age 1).

In the 1850 US Census the family was found in District 17, Sumter County, Georgia. Henry Coker (age 52) is listed as a farmer with real estate valued at $1,200 (the equivalent of about $35,000 today). In addition to his father Henry, the following family members are listed: his mother Nepsey (age 37), brothers Isaac (age 16) and William (age 10), sisters Elizabeth (age 13), Jane (age 7) and Francis (age 2). The 1852 Sumter County, Georgia tax roles indicate that the family had 303 acres of land, valued at $1,500 with additional personal property valued at $330. According to the records we have found, the family did not own slaves so we can assume that they farmed the land on their own or had hired farm hands.

In 1860, the family is listed in the US Census as living in Americus, District 20, Sumter County, Georgia. During that census, the following family members are living together: parents Henry (age 63) and Nepsey (age 47), brothers Isaac (age 24) and William (age 19), sisters Elizabeth (age 20), Orphy Jane (age 17), and Louisa (age 13). James is listed as 24 years old. Henry is listed as a farmer with land valued at $1,500 while James and his brother Isaac are listed as students at the time of this census. In addition to these family members, there is an 8 month old infant, James A. living in the home. James A. is the son of James Franklin and his wife Martha Butler. James and Martha were married on 23 December 1858, in Sumter County. Their son, James Anderson Coker, was born 25 October 1859 but he died less than a year later, on 9 July 1860, soon after the census was taken. Martha appears to have suffered from the birth of her son because she died two weeks after giving birth, on 8 November 1859. So at the age of 24, James was already a widower and had lost his first son, all within the span of 8 months.

Regimental Flag - Sumter Flying Artillery

A year later, war called James to action. He enlisted in the Sumter Flying Artillery, Company A, 11th Battalion, Georgia Volunteer Infantry and saw much action during the Civil War. Much of the following unit history is from the website www.sumterartillery.com, The Soldiers and Sailors Database and several books. The unit was mustered into service on 15 July 1861, in Richmond, Virginia. On 22 July 1861, they arrived in Manassas, Virginia, one day after the Battle of First Bull Run.

Their first experience in battle was on 20 December 1861, at the Battle of Dranesville where the unit suffered five killed and thirteen wounded. The unit then set winter camp in Culpepper, Virginia until 8 March 1862, when they arrived at Warrenton, Virginia. On 12 April they were ordered to Richmond and then on 16 April to Yorktown to establish a defensive line. On 2 May they were removed from Yorktown and moved back to Richmond. The distance from Warrenton to Richmond is 90 miles and the distance from Richmond to Yorktown is 60 miles. During that 3 week period the unit traveled approximately 210 miles. Throughout the first part of 1862, the unit was plagued with an outbreak of measles  resulting in the death of at least 37 soldiers.

Dunker Church, Battle of Antietam

On 1 June 1862 the unit was incorporated into the Army of Northern Virginia under the command of General Robert E. Lee. They served as a reserve unit during much of this time and didn't see significant action during the Seven Days Battle (25 June - 1 July 1862). Following the retreat of Union General George McClellan from Richmond, the unit was sent to Petersburg to participate in an artillery bombardment of McClellan's camp on 31 July 1862. After an ineffectual bombardment the unit returned to Richmond to protect the rear of the advancing Army of Northern Virginia. However, once the army moved into Maryland, the unit was moved to the front lines and saw heavy action in South Mountain and the Battle of Antietam. During the Battle of Antietam on 17 September 1862, the unit was stationed near Dunker Church defending the "Bloody Lane". Then the unit repositioned in the afternoon behind the woods and was replaced by another unit. After Lee's retreat the unit was again assigned to the Reserve Artillery.

The unit was encamped near Ninevah, Virginia in October 1862, moved to Culpepper, Virginia in early November and then ordered to fortify Fredericksburg, Virginia on 19 November. While in Fredericksburg, the unit was to defend against Union gunboats on the Rappahannock River. On 13 December 1862, they took part in the Battle of Fredericksburg and then set up winter camp at Chesterfield Depot. On 29 April 1863, the unit was moved to Port Royal, Virginia to guard against gun boats. On 4 May they participated in the Battle of  Salem Church. On 9 June Lee's army was reorganized and the Sumter Flying Artillery was assigned to Lt. Gen. A. P. Hill's 3rd Corps in preparation for the second invasion of the north. On 16 June the unit crossed the Potomac River at Sheperdstown, Virginia arriving in Gettysburg late on 1 July. On 2 July the unit provided support in the battle at Bliss Farm. On 3 July the unit participated in the artillery bombardment that preceded Pickett's charge. After that attack failed, the unit made a nighttime retreat back into Virginia on 4 July.

During 1864 the unit participated in several major battles, including the Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Mule Shoe, Myers Hill, Cold Harbor, and the defense of Petersburg. However, from March through August 1864 James was detailed as a guard to the Artillery Ordinance Train, 3rd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia so it is uncertain how much of this action he saw. The unit was assigned the defense of Petersburg from mid-August until 2 April 1865, when they were evacuated to Amelia Court House.

On 8 April 1865 the unit was attacked near Appomattox Station. Several men were captured along with the unit's battle flag. The remainder escaped capture and retreated to the north near Oakville. On 9 April they were ordered to Appomattox Court House to assist the Confederate troops in their retreat. During their march to Appomattox, the troops were informed of Lee's imminent surrender and were ordered to disband. They spiked their cannons, hacked off the wheels, destroyed the carriages and buried the guns. The unit never surrendered. After they disbanded, small groups of men made their way back to their homes. On 19 April some were captured and on 10 May 1865, the The District of Florida, which included southwest Georgia, surrendered.

Simeon & Seaborn Walters

On 8 December 1866, James married Sarah Ann Jane Walters. Sarah was the sister of Simeon and Seaborn Walters both of whom were in the Sumter Flying Artillery, but served in Company B. Both Seaborn and Simeon were captured in Lynchburg, Virginia on 14 April 1865 while in the hospital. Simeon finished the war in a Union hospital while Seaborn was paroled on 15 April 1865.

James and Sarah Jane had the following children: Willis Barnum (1867-1956), William Bartow (1868-1889), Dora Joline (1870-), James Thadeus Beta (1871-1956), Belle Boyd (1874-1938), Maggie Louise (1876-1856), and Effie Dessolee (1878-1905).

In the 1870 US Census James is listed as Jefferson Coker married to Jane with Barnum (age 4), Bartow (age 2) and Dora (age 0) as children. The family is living next to his mother Nepsey Coker, in Georgia Militia District 1185, Americus, Sumter County, Georgia. James is listed as a farmer.

James' wife Sarah died on 9 November 1883 at the age of 47. Six years later, on 28 January 1889, James married Mary Emma Bellew. Mary was 29 years old and James was 52 at the time of their marriage. This union resulted in four children: Ethel Veronica (1889-1916), Janie Mabel (1891-1919), James Bradford (1894-1961), and Mary Ida (1897-1898). James died on 15 June 1899, at the age of 63, in Plains, Sumter County, Georgia. He is buried in Magnolia Springs Cemetery in that town. His wife Mary Emma died on 8 July 1930 at the age of 70.

Leonida Maude Vickery (1855-1950)

Wow, I can't believe it has been a year since I last wrote in this blog - well, not really, I have made some edits to previous stories. I get busy with so many things but that is no excuse. Yes, I have been researching my family history a lot but just haven't had the incentive to write much. However, I signed up for the Family History Writing Challenge during the month of February (good thing February is a short month). The challenge is to write 250-300 words about your family each day for a month. So, here is the first (yes, it is a day early but that means I can miss a day and not feel guilty).

St. Heliers, 1865

Leonida Maude Vickery is my wife's 1st cousin 4 times removed. She was born 6 May 1855 in St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands to George and Louisa (LeBouef) Vickery. She was baptized on 27 May 1885 with Mr. Leon Bouniol and Mary Ann Vickery, her aunt, as her godparents. However neither one of them were present for the baptism so her father and aunt Mary Ann LeBoeuf stood in for them as proxies. As a child, Leonida went by her middle name, Maude.

As a reference, for those who are unsure where Jersey is located, it is one of the Channel Islands located in the English Channel between England and France. St. Helier is a town located on the southern coast of Jersey on St. Aubin's Bay. The community's location made it a major port for worldwide trade and many members of Maude's family had careers associated with shipping. The picture above is of St. Helier in 1865. The language spoken in the area, known as Jersiais, was a combination of French, from the early Norman settlers, and English.

The first census that I have found Maude listed was the 1871 Channel Islands Census for St, Helier, Jersey. During that census she is 15 years old and living with her father (age 46) and mother (age 46), sister Adala (age 19), brother George (age 13), and their servant Mary Fitzgibbon at 11 St. Marks Road. The strange thing is that she and her sisters are not listed in the 1861 census (yes sisters, she also had a sister Augusta, born 1853, who is not found on either census). In 1861, the family was living at 203 Famworth Terrace Cottage Street. The household consisted of George (age 35), Louisa (age 32), George (age 3), sister-in-law Mariann LeBoeuf, and servants Eliza and Eleanore Quirot. Maude didn't spend too much time in her hometown since by 1873 she had migrated to Australia to further her career in the theater. It has been fairly easy to track her time in Australia and New Zealand through the many theatrical announcements and reviews in the local newspapers there.

Theater photo of Maude Vickery, 1878

In the 5 June 1873 edition of The Argus from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia there is a theatrical notice which states "The Director has the honour to announce that he has made arrangements for an English and Opera Bouffe Season, to commence on Monday, June 9, during which he will have the pleasure of introducing several new artistes, in addition to those who have already made themselves favourites with the musical public, a number of New Operas will be added to the repertory, and no expense or trouble spared to make the season successful." The article lists Mdlle. Andree Navaro and Mdlle. Salange Navaro as members of the theater troop. You may be asking who Andree and Salange Navaro are. They are Augusta and Maude Vickery.

The sisters enjoyed early success in the theater as evidenced by a review in the 17 June 1873 edition of The Argus. The review complemented their acting skills stating, "The production of a French operette with French performers was a notable experiment last night. There was a large attendance, and the audience were very polite and encouraging towards the two young ladies who represented the personages upon whom the action of the piece devolves. The sisters Salange and Andree Navaro are not wholly new to the Melbourne audience, having recently made an appearance in the same work at the Apollo-hall. In this they gained the good opinion of those who went to see them, and last night at the Opera house they renewed that impression amongst those who had seen them before, and gave the same kind of modified satisfaction to those who witnessed their performance for the first time, as we had occasion to describe in a former notice of M. Poise's little work. We have no need to alter our opinion concerning these young ladies. They have very slight claims to be considered vocalists in the sense in which we use that word as applied to singers on the operatic stage. As actresses their performance is very pleasing to witness, and their voices for colloquial purposes are singularly clear and musical. The innocent little comedy between the young cabinetmaker Charlot (Mdlle. Salange Navaro) and the young workwoman Louisette (Mdlle. Andree Navaro) was played by them in such a manner as to secure abundance of applause, and one or two points were specially worthy of notice. The duet, "C'en est fait, je prends mon parti! " was an instance of the kind we mean, and so also was the pretty berceuse, "Dormez encor," sung by Louisette. These young ladies have every reason to be satisfied with the reception they met with. They will probably repeat this performance several times during the current week, and this will give the general audience an opportunity to become acquainted with them, and to say to what extent they like this bijou edition of a French play. For our own part, we are anxious to hear them perform in English, and we are glad to know that they are thoroughly conversant with the language. They were not by any means well supported by the orchestra in the matter of accompaniment. On the conclusion of the piece both singers were honoured with a recall."

With ship travel being the predominant mode of travel during this time period, we are able to track the sisters as they make their way through the theater circuit. On 11 May 1874 the sisters arrive in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia aboard the ship Rangatira. On 4 December 1875 we find they were aboard the ship Edina departing Sydney and arriving in Brisbane on 8 December. On 21 January 1876, after a short stay in Brisbane they were on their way aboard the Lady Bowen.

Solange and Andree Navaro performed the operetta "Love and Music" near Melbourne at the Masonic Hall in Wagga Wagg during March 1874. During a performance there Andree had a fall. It is described as follows in The Argus newsapper on 28 March, "During the temporary absence of the attendant at the curtain, Mr. Farley went under the stage for the purpose of lowering it, leaving the trap open. The Mdlles. Navaro were at the point of going into the wings, and Mdlle. Andree, not observing the trap, unfortunately slipped down. The shock of the fall was such that the young lady remained insensible for some time, but we believe that no serious injury has been sustained."

The sisters performed at the Queensland Theater in August 1875. While there, they performed the farce of "The Irish Tiger" and the burlesque on "Fra Diavolo". Solange played the bandit while Andree played Zerlina in the latter piece.

In February 1879, Solange Navaro announced her retirement from the stage at the age of 24. The news of her retirement was taken with sorrow by the press. An article in The Australian Journal stated, "After the conclusion of her present engagement with Mr. George Darrell that excellent actress, Miss Solange Navaro, intends giving up the stage once and for ever. Lovers of the drama, both here and in Australia, where she is such a great favourite, will be sorry to hear it. Miss Navaro is the making of a grand exponent of high-class tragedy." During this retirement she married Fred H Digby. It is believed that Mr. Digby was a sports reporter in New Zealand. Mr. Digby died in the Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1886 at the age of 45. The couple had one child, Claude Digby born in 1881 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Solange's retirement was short lived. In 1882, shortly after the birth of her son, she is in Canterbury, New Zealand preparing to perform in "Jo" at the Princess Theatre. During May 1885, she is performing the comedy "Pink Dominoes" at the Theatre Royal in Adelaide, South Australia. "Pink Dominoes" had previously been performed in Sydney and caused great controversy there as it was the first translation from the French stage. The play was described in the South Australian Register as "a play which will be remembered for its compromising situations as well as for the excitement which it caused in the old country when it was first produced." Solange continued her stay at the Theatre Royal in June 1885 co-starring in the comedietta "A Happy Pair" as the wife of the character Mr. Honeyton. The governor was present for this performance.

In August 1885, she is performing in the play "The Sunny South". The review of this play in the Otago Witness isn't as good as her previous plays but the reviewer seems to like her performance. The review states, "'The Sunny South' is drawing mild houses at the Opera House, and Mr George Darrell's manly impersonation of a manly part is received with much favour. I should have been better pleased if Mr Darrell had a greater slice of fortune this time, for he is really beginning to act. Some years ago he was of an extremely amateurish type, but experience has taught him some lessons. He is at his best in the fourth act, the most exciting one of the five. Miss Emma Fischer, who plays Bubs Berkeley, suffers from a hoarseness which appears to be chronic and grates upon the ear. She is at her best also in the fourth act. Miss Fischer is a Colonial actress of medium ability, who might, under proper tuition develop a considerable amount of talent. Miss Solange Navaro is effective, - she always is - as Clarice Chester. Miss Navaro is a native of Jersey, and made her first appearance in Melbourne with her sister, Miss Andree, in a little French vaudeville, "Bon Soir Voisin," at a place of amusement known as the Apollo Hall. That was more years ago than Miss Navaro will care to recall. She played then in French, and she has since, by dint of perseverance and study attained a prominent position on our stage. In character parts, such as Hortense in "Jo," she is unexcelled."

Later in August of 1885 she is again performing at the Theatre Royal in Adelaide. This time it is in the play "The Squatter".

In the 1891 Channel Island census, her son Claude H. Digby, is found  living with Leonida's brother George Vickery and his wife Alice. Claude is 10 years old and going to school.

Leonida and Claude are back together in the 1911 England census. Leonida is going by her middle name, Maude and is listed as an actress. She is 55 years old. Claude is 30 years old, single and employed as a bank clerk.

The last mention I have found of Solange Navaro is in the Brisbane Courier in Queensland, Australia. This article is dated 31 May 1924 and is a retrospective looking back 50 years on the theater with a short note on the play "Cox and Box" where Solange played Martha Mary Cox, a milliner, and her sister Andree played Mary Martha Box, a telegraph clerk.

It appears that after Leonida returned she settled in Epping, Essex, England where she died at the age of 95, during the fall of 1950. Our search is now to find details for Leonida Maude Vickery, otherwise known as Solange Navaro and Mrs. F. H. Digby, for the time between the death of her husband in 1886 and her death in 1950.

Frederick LeBoeuf (b. 1832-?)

The LeBoeuf family were seafarers from Jersey, Channel Islands. There are some great stories that I have discovered concerning their voyages. Frederick is my wife's 3rd great-grand uncle.

Frederick leBoeuf was born in 1832 to Philippe and Jeanne Ann LeGeyt LeBoeuf in St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands. He was christened on 8 April 1832. Based on the records we have discovered so far, Frederick appears to be the youngest of fifteen children.

In the 1841 England census Frederick (age 9) is living with his siblings Elias (20), Susanna (14), Mary (12), and William (10) in the home of George DeGruchy and his wife Elizabeth. Frederick's father had died in 1835 and his mother died in 1840. I am not quite sure why they are living with the DeGruchy family but there is a connection that I need to clarify. Frederick married Clara Vickery. Clara's older sister Louisa, married Captain Charles DeGruchy. Many of the Vickery children married LeBoeufs and Frederick's brother Elias was an apprentice plasterer under George DeGruchy. This indicates to me that the Vickery, LeBoeuf and DeGruchy families were pretty close.

In 1875, Frederick is listed as Master on the ship Juan F Pearson of London. The Juan F Pearson was a 508 ton vessel that traveled between London and Sydney, Australia with stops in Valparaiso, Chile. We know that he was captain of the Juan F Pearson in 19 May 1874 because his son Frederick was born on the ship in the Indian Ocean. On the 10th of June 1877, the Juan F Pearson ran aground off Big Mud Island while on a voyage from Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada to Amsterdam, Holland. After the Juan F Pearson ran aground, Frederick became the captain of the Saracen. His daughter Kathleen was born 4 December 1877 on the ship while in Manila Bay, Philippines.

A story in The Inquirer, from Perth, Australia on 14 July 1880, had an interesting story concerning Frederick LeBoeuf. "The following particulars of which have been handed by the captain of the rescuing ship, the Queen of the Seas, to the Straits Times, and appear in the issue of that journal of May 24. The captain (LeBoeuf) says : 'We left Cape Town the 27th March, and on 22nd April made the island of St. Paul, about eight miles off; saw on the summit a flag flying, and, thinking that might be a signal of distress, hauled quite close under its lee. Observed at the entrance of the basin a French flag flying half-mast, and at the same time saw a boat making for the ship. Hove to for the boat, and, on its coming alongside, a voice called out, in French, 'We are ship wrecked, and have nothing to eat; will you take us on board,' adding, 'our captain is behind in another boat.' A few minutes after the captain, a Frenchman, came alongside; his statement was that they were fishermen from the island of Bourbon; that their vessel, a schooner of 80 tons, was a complete wreck, and that they had nothing to eat, except the fish of the island; he implored of me to take them — they were 30 in number, and there were 8 more on the island of Amsterdam, 40 miles off. The captain also begged of me to pass by Amsterdam Island and take the others off. Their pleading was such that I resolved to take them on board, although we had still a long distance to go, and my great fear was shortness of bread and water. However, by good management we thought it could be done. By 5 p.m. we had them on board, and proceeded to the other island, arriving there the following morning at 10 o'clock; we soon hoisted in the eight others — thus bringing up the total to 38 — and proceeded on our voyage. Arrived at Anjer on the 10th instant, where we procured yams, and on the 16th May we reached Singapore, being 49 days from Cape Town and 23 days from Amsterdam Island. The Frenchman's schooner's name was Decide, and hailed from Bourbon. By what we learnt from the captain they left Bourbon on the 22nd of November, and arrived at St. Paul's in December, for the purpose of fishing, expecting to leave again for Bourbon in March. On entering the crater, or basin, she touched on part of the wreck of H.M.S. Megaera, causing the schooner to leak badly. They had just time to haul to the water's edge and heave her down, when they found several planks badly gone. However, they repaired her, and she seemed quite tight. They could not return to Bourbon as early as they wished, as the swell would not allow them to leave the basin; so it was not until the middle of April they succeeded in bringing the schooner to an anchorage outside, where they hoped to load the fish they had caught and proceed to Amsterdam Island for the others and proceed home. The night following the schooner parted her cables, with the mate and two men on board. She fetched Amsterdam Island, but sprang a leak in the interval. At the latter island but two out of the ten men would venture on board to return to St. Paul's, the vessel making so much water ; preferring to remain on the island to risking their lives in the vessel. She also lost an anchor there. However, they returned to St. Paul's, having but 30 fathoms of chain and no anchors. They then hauled the schooner into the basin and anchored her with an anchor that was on shore. This was the last vessel of the season, and none were expected over until next year. The captain said they had no means of repairing the schooner, and expected her to fill shortly. On telling them to bring all the food they had, they said they had only about 100 lbs. of bread, being what remained of the bread given to them by Her Majesty's steamer Comus, when she called there on the 29th of March. She also gave them tobacco and sugar. This is probably the only instance of relief given to shipwreck persons for many years from St. Paul's and Amsterdam Islands. They lie, in mid-ocean, directly in the track of vessels from Home, the Cape, and Mauritius, to Fremantle, and the praiseworthy example shewn by Captain LeBoeuf, and in fairness we should add the name of Captain Stephens, in keeping a look-out, might well be followed by ship masters generally if the opportunities of approaching the hind are favorable. "

In February 1881, Frederick and his family, Clara (wife), Frederick (6) and Kathleen (3) arrive on the Queen of the Seas in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. This is the same ship that he captained in the above story. While they were in port Frederick posted an add in the local newspaper, The Argus. This post stated "Captain Le Boeuf will not be responible for any debts contracted by his crew while in this port."

In August 1886, Frederick arrives back in Victoria, Australia aboard the Glance. He is listed as the captain of that ship.

Frederick LeBoeuf recorded his Will and Testament on 24 January 1888 and it is housed at the Jesrsey Heritage Trust (Item refs: D/Y/A/55/65).

During the 1891 England census, Frederick is listed as a retired master mariner, living with his wife Clara in St. Helier, Jersey. His son and daughter are at home and additionally a step daughter, Janet Hall, age 23, is living with them. Janet is listed as a school teacher. I have not yet found how Janet Hall is related to the family.

Willie Mae Harris (1864-1909)

Sometimes as you research your family history you discover some very interesting women that you just have to wonder about. I mentioned in a previous post that I would write a history for Willie Mae Harris and document her short but eventful life. So here it is, as far as we can tell or have been told.

According to family stories, Willie Mae Harris was born 17 November 1864. Supposedly this is the same day that her father was injured during a Civil War skirmish in Atlanta (we have not found any documents proving/disproving this account of events although the majority of Atlanta had fallen to the Union only 2 months earlier). Willie Mae grew up in the small town of Yalaha, Florida on the shores of Lake Harris, with her father and two sisters, Grace and Fannie. Family legend states that Lake Harris is supposedly named after her grandfather Colonel Frank E. Harris who surveyed the lake. However, there are other records that state the lake was named for Ebenezer Harris. Family legend also states that Colonel Frank E. Harris was born in Georgia and came to Florida during the 2nd Seminole War and was stationed at Fort Wildwood.

The family is mostly a mystery since we have not been able to find a positive identification in any of the US or Florida census records between 1865 and 1880 or even documentation that her father was Frank E. Harris. Our records of Willie Mae begin on 1 September 1881, in Sumter County, Florida, when she married James Albert Walker (see the previous blog for his story). We have this marriage license so this is a proven event. In the 1885 Florida census Willie Mae, James and their daughter Burta (Bertha) are recorded as living in Sumter County. They had a total of three children, Bertha Gertrude (b. 1884), Ernest Albert (b. 1886), and Maxwell Eugene (b. 1889). Maxwell's birth is one of the mysteries surrounding Willie Mae. He was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Why would Willie Mae travel from central Florida to Chattanooga, Tennessee to give birth? This is where the 1890 census would have been useful because it would have been the first census with all three children listed. But since that record doesn't exist we have to guess what happened for now. We do know that James and Willie were forced to sell 160 acres between 1888 and 1889 due to delinquent taxes. We have been told that James left the family and Willie Mae married Samuel Seigler, then William Henderson, and finally Andrew Jackson (A.J.) Phares (1905) in the subsequent years. Samuel Seigler was born near Chattanooga, Tennessee and eventually ended up in Sumter County, Florida before moving to Jacksonville, Florida. Could there be a connection here as to why Maxwell was born in Chattanooga? We may never know.

This series of marriages is evidenced by several documents. The 1900 census lists Samuel Seigler and Earnest Walker (step-son) living in Higley, Florida. The 1901 Jacksonville, FL City Directory lists Samuel Seigler married to Mrs. Willie M. However, the couple were not living together. Samuel was living at 706 W Monroe Street while Willie was listed as boarding at 836 W Church Street. These homes are just a few blocks apart. Later in 1901 the Great Jacksonville Fire occurred burning 146 city blocks, destroying over 2,000 buildings, killing 7 people and leaving almost 9,000 people homeless. The fire started only a few blocks to the west of the residences listed above and probably also destroyed both homes. The 1904 Jacksonville, FL City Directory lists Willie M Henderson living at 133 Winter Street with her daughter Bertha Walker (dressmaker). So it appears that she had left Seigler and married Henderson by that time (or did she?). The 1905 Jacksonville, FL City Directory lists Willie Seigler working as a seamstress and living with her children Ernest Seigler (plumber) and Maxey Seigler (tinner) living at 420 Winter Street. Why does she keep changing names?

The next marriage, this time to A.J. Phares, is her fourth marriage and appears to be his second marriage. Records indicate that he was a boat captain and that he married Florence Mae Piper in Lake County, Florida in 1893 and then moved to St. Petersburg, Florida by the time of the 1900 US census. There is an interesting coincidence in that the Phares family originally came to Yalaha from Alabama after the Civil War and bought the Harris homestead. There is a book titled "Down in Dixie: The Story of Three Little Crackers" published in 1898 that describes the Phares family's adventures in Florida. The homestead was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 but has since been torn down.

Willie Mae and A.J. were married 17 April 1905 in Jacksonville and lived at 108 East Eighth Street. This address is in the historic Springfield neighborhood of Jacksonville. This neighborhood was spared the ravages of the Great Jacksonville Fire of 1901 and remains pretty much intact even today, however this home is no longer standing. While living there Willie Mae was a founding member of the Springfield M.E. Church. This marriage would also be short lived but this time it was due to a tragedy. On the cold morning of 22 December 1909, Willie Mae was stoking the fireplace in the home when her nightgown caught fire severely burning most of her body resulting in her death later that day, just 3 days before Christmas and only a little over a month after her 45th birthday. Her funeral was held two days later, on Christmas Eve, at her home and at the church. Reverend J. Alvin Ewing performed the services with music performed by Mesdames Boote, Patterson and VanNess. She was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville. Her headstone is inscribed Willie Harris wife of Andrew J Phares. Her son Ernest is now buried alongside her.

Less than a year later, A.J. Phares married his third wife, Margaret A. Walston in Jacksonville. One of the last record we have for A.J. in Florida is his WW I service record, where at the age of 53 he served as a Chiefs Machinist Mate and Quartermaster 1st Class on 4 different shore patrol ships between April 1917 and November 1918. We believe he is buried in Rhinebeck Cemetery in Rhinebeck, New York. His headstone lists Mary Boice as his wife at the time of his death.

We will continue our search for Willie Mae Harris, trying to fill in all the gaps that we currently have. There are many questions yet to be answered but we have learned enough to indicate that she had a difficult life, being married 4 times between 1881 and 1905, but still had the faith to be a founding member of her neighborhood church.

James Albert Walker (~1859-??)

Have you ever not been able to find someone? Do you have ancestors who seem to have dropped in from Mars and then disappeared just as quickly? This is the story of James Albert Walker and his family, as far as we can tell. The records we have of him only give us a brief 14 year look at his life (1875-1889). But we continue to search, hoping for the day when the lost clue turns up.

James Albert Walker is my wife's great-great grandfather and the brick wall on her Walker line. James first appears in land records from the Bureau of Land Management Global Land Office Records. In August of 1875 James A Walker purchases 153.68 acres of land in what is now Seminole County, Florida, Township 20S, Range 30E, Section 7 (northeast 1/4).

He next appears in our records during the latter half of 1881 on a marriage record.

Marriage License
The State of Florida
To any person legally authorized to solomnize the Rites of Matrimony; Greetings:
These are to license and permit you to join together in the Holy Estate of Matrimony James A Walker and Willie Harris and make return to this office as the law directs to wit within ten days.
Given under my hand and seal of office at Leesburg, Fla this 31st day of August AD 1881 and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and sixth year.
T.J. Iney Clerk of the Circuit Court of Sumter County Florida
J.W. Lees D.C.
State of Florida
County of Sumter
This is to certify that I have joined together the above named parties in the Holy Bonds of Matrimony in persuance of the above License, this First day of September AD 1881.
Wm L Turner
Minister of the Gospel
Recorded this the 22nd day of February AD 18__.

After they were married and started a family James purchases additional lands. In November of 1888 James A Walker purchases 160 acres of land in Lake County, Florida, Township 18S, Range 24E, Section 12 (west 1/4 of northeast 1/4 and east 1/2 of northwest 1/4). This land patent as well as the one from 1875 list James as being from Orange County.

So where did James come from before he purchased these lands and married Willie Harris? By the way, Willie's story is also very interesting and will be a subject of a future ancestory. His birthplace should be easy to determine since the censuses of this time had a good bit of information in them. We could look in the 1880 census, but where was he at that time? Maybe we could look at the 1890 - oh yeah, that is the legendary missing census that everyone needs to fill in all their lost clues. Then there is always the Florida 1885 census. James is listed in the 1885 census married to Willie and with a 1 year old daughter Burtie (Bertha Gertrude). The family is living in Sumter County, Florida. James is listed as being 26 years old, born in Georgia, and his occupation is a farmer. So, based on this, we could deduce that he was born around 1859 somewhere in Georgia but we have not been able to find any records matching this yet.

What about James' family? We know that he eventually had two sons in addition to the daughter. The boys names were Ernest Albert and Maxwell Eugene Walker. Ernest was born 24 December 1886 near Leesburg, Lake County, Florida and Maxwell was born 3 June 1889 in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee. I am not real sure why the boys were born so far apart.

Maybe these records shed a little light on what happened:

On 26 June 1889, there was a court order to sell the mortgaged property of James A Walker and Willie M. Walker. A notice was published in the Eustis Lake Region newspaper and the land was sold at the Tavares courthouse on 5 August 1889 to F. A. Teague for the sum of $200. The land consisted of 120 acres located in Township 18S, Range 24E, Section 12 (west 1/2 of northeast 1/4 and northeast 1/4 of northwest 1/4). This appears to be the land James purchased a year earlier in 1888.

There is another court record that indicates that additional lands were sold by the Tax Collector on 5 December 1889 for unpaid taxes for the year 1888. This land consisted of 40 acres in Lake County, Township 18S, Range 24E, Section 12 (southwest 1/4 of northeast 1/4) and was sold to G. McLean and his heirs.

After this we lose James and can't find any further trace of him. Why did he sell this land? Why was his son born in Tennessee? Where does he go? Was he still living in 1890? Did he die? We just don't know. All we know is the family says he abandoned his family or otherwise separated. So what happens to the family? That is another confusing story.

In 1900 we find Ernest Albert Walker, the older of the two boys living with Samuel Seigler in Lake County, Florida. Samuel appears to have been one of Willies' four husbands over her short 45 year lifespan. Maxwell Eugene Walker is also living in Lake County, Florida at the Allsbrook residence. We don't yet know who the Allsbrook's were or why they were caring for Maxwell. We can't find Willie or her daughter Bertie in 1900. One interesting thing that turns up beginning in the 1900 census is that the boys state that their father was born in Alabama. This contradicts the 1885 Florida census. Which one is correct?

By 1910, Bertie has married Berna Walton Coffman in Woodstock, Shenandoah County, Virgina. They are living with his parents and siblings. Ernest is also married and has two children in 1910. We also know that Willie has died at home. She died on 22 December 1909 from burns suffered from the fireplace setting her nightgown on fire. She was with her 4th husband, Andrew Jackson Phares (another interesting story).

After 1910 all of the children relocate to Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida for a period. But what of their father? Where has he been during this time? That is a mystery we will continue to research. Maybe one of these days it will be solved.

Corydon Bloomfield Reeder (abt 1823-???)

We are coming to the end of 2009 and looking forward to the beginning of 2010. But before the month of December closes out, I decided to write another “Ancestory”. This one is about my wife’s 3^rd Great Grandfather, Corydon Bloomfield Reeder. He is one of those enigmas that some come across while researching. We know an incredible amount about his life but we know almost nothing about his parents, his birth, or his death.

According to the 1850 census he is listed as 26 years old. However, the 1860 census lists him as 31 years old. In the 1870 census he is listed as 36 years old and by 1880 he is 58 years old. Everyone else in his family ages the normal 10 years between censuses. Based on this information, we can either assume that he was a time traveler and didn’t age like the rest of us or that, based on the 1850 and 1880 censuses, he was probably born around 1823 in Montgomery County, Ohio.

In 1848, Corydon moved to Wayne County, Indiana where he received a land grant for ¼ of a section of land. On January 10, 1850, he married Elizabeth Longfellow in Henry County, Indiana and by the time he was recorded in the 1850 census, he and his wife were living in Monroe Township, Delaware County, Indiana where he was farming. These three counties are located adjacent to each other in east central Indiana and fairly close to Montgomery County, Ohio. Corydon and Elizabeth had one child, Zimry Reeder, born April 1851 and it appears that Elizabeth may have died soon afterward. Zimry must have been left with Elizabeth’s family to care for him because we find him in Henry County, Indiana during the 1870 census.

After the assumed loss of his wife Elizabeth, Corydon begins to move further west. On January 22, 1852, Corydon marries Mary Jane Reeder at the home of her father William in Louisa County, Iowa. Mary Jane was 18 years and 7 months old at the time of their marriage. Corydon would have been about 30 years old if our guess is correct. It appears that Mary Jane may have been a cousin of Corydon since her father, William Reeder, had lived in Montgomery County, Ohio before migrating to Iowa. Corydon and his wife then migrate to Oregon and arrive in the state on October 20, 1852. He received land grants in 1853 and 1854. We know from tax roles and the 1857 Oregon census that he was living in Douglas County, Oregon during that time. By 1860 he and his family had moved to Umatilla Crossing, Wasco County, Oregon where Corydon was a farmer. The family consisted of Corydon, Mary, their three sons Leonidas, Sylvester, and Micajah, and their daughter Priscilla. In 1866 Corydon was awarded a land grant of 320 acres in Douglas County.

Corydon appears to have been active in local organizations. In 1867, he became a charter member of the Umatilla Lodge, No. 40, A.F. & A.M. This is the parent lodge of Eastern Oregon, from which all other lodges sprang.

By the 1870 census, Mary Jane and Priscilla are no longer listed with the family. We are assuming that both may have died sometime during the 1860’s. We know that Mary Jane was still around in 1862 since there are two more sons, Andrew and Gamelion, listed in the 1870 census. In 1872 Corydon is granted a 160 acre land grant in Morrow County, Oregon but he appears to still remain in Umatilla for some time since he is listed as marrying Fanny A Campbell on January 14, 1875, in Umatilla County, Oregon. We are not sure what happened, but this marriage was short lived. On August 24, 1877, Fanny filed for divorce and requested custody and support of their minor child. We have not yet found out the name of this minor child. This divorce was finalized in October, 1877.

The next time we find Corydon is in the 1880 census. He is living with two of his sons, Leonidas and Andrew, in Thomas Fork Valley, Uinta County, Wyoming where he is listed as a farmer. This is the last we see from him and we can only suppose that he might have died sometime around 1890 in Wyoming. However, that is only a guess. As far as we can tell, he led an interesting life, traveling across the country and having several families but the details of his birth and death still elude us. We continue the search for Mr. Reeder and his families hoping that some day, a few bricks will fall into place to figure out his lineage.