Birth Month Monday – February Edition

Happy Birthday Ancestors!

Birth Month Monday is a blog theme I created to highlight my ancestors and the significant and/or noteworthy events during their life - and post it on Monday.

Five of my ancestors were born in February.  Common to all of them were epidemics, cholera and/or flu, various wars and the election of several Presidents during their lifetime.  And the weather – very cold, possibly snowing in February – except for Uncle Cecil who was born in southern California.  Placing my ancestors in selected historical contexts illustrates what they lived without until the advances were made.  Deeper research may reveal the extent to which an invention/event impacted their lives.  

Hannah Carrigan (Clark), born 3 Feb 1819; died 7 Mar 1854.  Inventions included the railroad in 1828 and telegraph in 1833.  

My relationship: 3rd great-grandmother

Hannah married Benjamin Daniel Clark

  Child, Jane who married Thomas Brown

    Child Ida who married Henry Martin Kendall

      Child Ethel who married Alba William Hibsch

        Child Robert who married Betty Hutson

          Child – Me!

Henry Martin Kendall, born 9 Feb 1864 in Rowan County, Kentucky; died 14 May 1937 in Los Angeles County, California.  Inventions included the telephone in 1876, electric light bulb in 1879 and the automobile in 1885.  I’m not sure he flew on an airplane, invented when he was 39, but he probably read newspapers accounts of the exciting invention.

My relationship: great-grandfather

Henry married Ida May Brown

  Child Ethel who married Alba William Hibsch

    Child Robert who married Betty Hutson

      Child – Me!

Caroline Ernestine Hibsch (Williams) (Dripps), born 4 Feb 1867 in Prussia; died 21 Jun 1943 in Los Angeles County, California.  In addition to the inventions of Henry Kendall’s time, Caroline may have taken advantage of the bra invented in 1914 when she was 47.  What were her thoughts about women receiving the right to vote in the United States in 1920?  She was 53 – did she vote?  In 1928, the television and penicillin were invented.  Was there a TV in her house?  Did she benefit from penicillin?

My relationship: my 2nd great aunt

Caroline’s brother W.C. married Martha Bashor

  Child Alba who married Ethel May Kendall

    Child Robert who married Betty Hutson

      Child – Me!

   

John Ernest Hibsch, born 19 Feb 1880 in Calumet County, Wisconsin; died 7 Aug 1966 in Los Angeles County, California.  Inventions included the short-wave radio, the bikini, color TV, 45 rpm recordings and the polio vaccine.   How did this first-generation German-American handle the prohibition era when he was 38 to 53 years old and working in a grocery store? 

My relationship: 2nd great uncle

  John’s brother W.C. married Martha Bashor

    Child Alba who married Ethel May Kendall

      Child Robert who married Betty Hutson

        Child – Me!

Cecil Everett Hibsch, born 7 Feb 1902 in Los Angeles County, California; died 15 Jun 1981 in Williams, Colusa County, California.  His lifespan was rich with noteworthy events such as the Moon-landing in 1969, Watergate and Nixon resignation and 1st test-tube baby in 1978, 1st woman Supreme Court Justice and 1st space shuttle flight in 1981 at age 79. 

My relationship: great uncle

Cecil’s brother Alba married Ethel May Kendall

   Child Robert who married Betty Hutson

     Child – Me!

Happy Birthday!  You'd be amazed at what's available today.

-------------

Parenthetical = married name

Event Source: Our Times  

Images Source: Creative Commons

Epilogue - 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge

Thank you to Amy John Crow and her blog series "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks", a challenge on No Story Too Small.  I finished the challenge and learned more about my ancestors than I did before.

I didn't want to end the Challenge with just the 52nd post. Something extra was needed - like a bow on a package, a cherry on top of the sundae.  How about a list befitting the end of the year?  I have two to wrap up 2014:

Top 10 Most-Read Posts 

1. Mrs. Mary Daulton Clark Identified Using Two Key Resources (#33)
2. Ethel May Kendall Hibsch, the First Family Historian (#48)
3. Henry M. Kendall, Orange Juice in his Blood (#47)
4. John Ernest Hübsch 1838-1909 (#1)
5. James Hutson Abandoned Family (#4)
6. Ida May Brown Kendall, My Mystery Woman (#10)
7. Comings and Goings of Adam Clark, 1842-1926 (#7) 
8. Thomas Brown, Native of Ohio 1844-1927 (#8)
9. Jane Clark Brown 1846-1918 (#2)
10. Cephas A. Eisenman 1874-1946, Lifelong Minnesotan (#9)*

My Top 5 Ancestors**

1. Ethel M. Kendall Hibsch and Alba W. Hibsch: my grandparents - I just need more time to get to know you and have a Root Beer float.
2. Jane Clark Brown: why did you really live in an insane asylum most of your life?
3. John Ernest Hübsch:  tell me about your hometown in Prussia and sailing to America.
4. Thomas Cresap: how did you survey the wilderness and were you as vile as they said?
5. Rebecca Cresap Ogle:  tell me about frontier life in Ohio and raising 13 children.

     +1 Alva Leo Hutson: let's talk about homesteading in early 1900s North Dakota over a bowl of  your ice cream.

Thank you for reading  about my ancestors throughout the past year.  I hope you'll continue to read my blog and remember to post a comment about your thoughts.  Much appreciated!

 *resulted in a cousin connection!

**of course I'd like to talk to all of my ancestors but this list includes the ones who especially piqued my curiosity.

Rebecca Cresap Ogle Clark, Pioneer of Adams County, Ohio (52 Ancestors #51)

This is another article for the series "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks", a challenge by Amy Johnson Crow on No Story Too Small.

My 4^th great-grandmother, Rebecca Cresap Ogle, was the daughter of William Ogle and Mary Cresap Ogle.  She was born 22 Oct 1786 near Sinking Spring, Brush Creek Township, Adams or Highland County, Ohio. [1]  

Rebecca married Stephen Clark on 12 Jul 1804.[2]  He may have been the first pioneer in the settlement of Flat Run.[3]  Certainly many of my Clark ancestors were buried at Flat Run Cemetery, including Stephen and Rebecca.  Continued research should confirm the relationship of the settlement and the cemetery as well as Sinking Spring.

1804 Marriage of Stephen Clark and Rebecca Cresap Ogle [3]
[click images to enlarge]

Stephen and Rebecca had 13 children:[4]

• Phoebe Clark 1805-1853
• Ellen Clark 1807-1865
• William Clark, died in Missouri
• Sidney Clark 
• Margaret Clark 1812-1887
• Edith Clark  1814-1863
• Benjamin Daniel Clark 1815-1895 [my 3rd great-grandfather]
• Drusilla Clark 
• Emily Clark 1819-1847
• Fanny Clark 1821- 
• Miss Clark 
• Miss Clark 
• Stephen Clark 1825-1916 

I would consider Rebecca a frontier woman of Adams County.  The region was wilderness in her time, densely forested with no roads.[5]  Rivers, streams and creeks were plentiful.  Deer, elk, buffalo, bears and turkeys were abundant, while the river furnished excellent fish.[6]  Hominy was a good substitute for bread, or parched corn pounded and sifted, then mixed with a little maple sugar and eaten dry; or, mixed with water was a good beverage.   Clothing made from deer skin sufficed.  Deer's hair or oak leaves put into moccasins were worn in place of stockings or socks.  Wearing a linsey shirt or dress made of buffalo wool was top-notch attire.  Wearing a calico dress was considered finely dressed.  The cabins had a door but no windows.  Furniture consisted of stools, and bedsteads made with forks driven into the ground and poles laid on these with the bark of the trees. They rocked their children in a sugar trough or pack-saddle. The cooking utensils consisted of a pot, dutch oven, skillet, frying pan, wooden trays and trenchers. The table was made of a broad slab.[7] 

Rebecca died on 10 Apr 1860 at age 74 at West Union Township, Adams County, Ohio.  Stephen Clark preceded her in death in 1853 near Sinking Spring, Highland County, Ohio.[8]

Grave of Rebecca Cresap Ogle Clark
at Flat Run Cemetery, Adams County, Ohio
Source: Find-a-Grave  

Rebecca lived in the period when America became an official country in 1789.  My existence proves she survived amid many challenges of frontier life, from uncharted land, wild animals, Indians and diseases, maybe even isolation and loneliness save the children.  Oh, to be able to talk to her today.

Future Research

• Obtain church, tax and probate records
• Research historical writings of Adams County and locales where she lived
• Study DAR records
• Locate descendants of Rebecca and Stephen

Sources

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[1] Depending on boundary changes

[2] Birth, marriage and death dates and locations from Ethel M. Kendall Hibsch’s  [my grandmother] approved membership application for the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

[3] Scott, Daniel. 1890. A History of the Early Settlement of Highland County, Ohio. The Gazette.  Page 61. Accessed online version via HathiTrust.

[4] Cresap Society website

[5] Evans, Nelson Wiley, and Emmons B. Stivers. 1900. A History of Adams County, Ohio: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Including Character Sketches of the Prominent Persons Identified with the First Century of the Country’s Growth ... E B. Stivers. Page 51.

[6] Ibid page 53

[7] Ibid page 54

[8] See Footnote 1

Ida May Brown, the Clarks, Kendalls and Morris County Kansas (52 Ancestors #50)

This is another article for the series "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks", a challenge by Amy Johnson Crow on No Story Too Small.

Joseph Clark was two years old in the 1850 census[1] enumerated in Franklin Township, Adams County, Ohio.  He lived with his parents, Benjamin Daniel Clark and Hannah Carrigan Clark and seven older brothers and sisters.  He married Anna Maria [Mariah] Smart in 1868 in Highland County, Ohio.[2]  They had two children, Cora Blanche Clark and Ottie Claud Clark.

For 20+ years, the family lived in the Ohio townships of Franklin and Bratton where Joseph was a farmer.  Then, in 1900[3], I found Joseph, Ann [Anna Maria] and Ottie living in Ohio Township, Morris County, Kansas. 

Where?

My Kendall family lived in Morris County, Kansas.

Did my Kendall’s and my Clark’s know each other?

Yes they did.  And there’s more.

Let me rewind and tell the story from the beginning.

While researching the 1880 census for Benjamin Daniel Clark, too many results came back even in the same county.  Solution – search only for Clark, 1880 census and Adams County, Ohio.  Perfect - only eight results – much more manageable.

Found him!  Daniel Clark, as he was recorded, lived in Bratton Township, Adams, Ohio.  Hmm, why move after living in Franklin Township, Adams County, Ohio for so long?  Did other Clarks live in Bratton?  I looked again at the eight names on the results list and selected Joseph Clark, head of household, because Daniel had a son named Joseph born in 1848.

In 1880, Joseph Clerk [Clark], age 31, lived in Bratton Township, Adams County, Ohio.  He was a farmer and his wife Mariah A., age 31, kept house.  They and their parents were born in Ohio.  They had one child, a daughter, Cora Blanch, age 2, born in Ohio.  I was certain he was Daniel’s son based on proximity to Daniel, year of birth and one particular member of the family.

I gasped out loud when I saw her name!

Ida M. Brown, niece, age 10, born in Maryland. 

I couldn't believe my eyes.  Joseph’s niece lived with them.  My great-grandmother.  My mystery woman.

1880 U.S. Federal Census excerpt of Joseph Clark Family with Ida M. Brown
(click images to enlarge)

I've been looking high and low for any paper trail for Ida May Brown prior to her marriage in 1887 to Henry Martin Kendall.  To date, “sideways” searching for her was fruitless but finally, a major crumble in my brick wall for her.  Of course, it didn't help that her birthplace in the 1880 census record was incorrectly transcribed as Maryland instead of Missouri.  Well, the digitized image of the census page wasn't exactly clear but it sure looked more like “MO” than Md” to me.  Her birth date was off by one year, 1870 instead of 1869 but not really a big deal.

As to the previous question – did my Kendall’s and my Clark’s know each other?  Yes, they were neighbors in the 1895, 1900 and 1910 censuses.  In the 1900 census, the Kendall family was Dwelling #25 and the Clark family was Dwelling #32, digital page 3 and page 4.  Joseph Clark, brother of Jane Clark Brown, my second great-grandmother, was a long-time neighbor of James W. Kendall, brother of Henry Martin Kendall, Ida May Brown’s husband and my great-grandfather.

Wow.

1895 Kansas State Census excerpt showing Kendall and Clark Families

1910 U.S. Federal Census excerpt showing Kendall and Clark Families

More research awaits me as these revelations sink in.  For now I’m thinking of the lessons learned from my new discoveries:

• Use simple Internet searches; less is more
• Look on the page before and after the census page on which your ancestor appeared
• Search sideways – children and siblings of your direct ancestor

Gotta go now, it’s time for my Happy Dance.

Future Research

Pending, too busy dancing…

Sources

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[1] Year: 1850; Census Place: Franklin, Adams, Ohio; Roll: M432_657; Page: 20A; Image: 44.  Source Information: Ancestry.com.

[2] Jordan Dodd, Liahona Research. Ohio, Marriages, 1803-1900.  Ancestry.com 

[3] Year: 1900; Census Place: Ohio, Morris, Kansas; Roll: 491; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0107; FHL microfilm: 1240491. Ancestry.com. Also see James W Kendall on digitized image page 3, Dwelling number 25, Family number 26.

Benjamin Daniel Clark, Lifelong Resident of Adams County, Ohio (52 Ancestors #49)

This is another article for the series "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks", a challenge by Amy Johnson Crow on No Story Too Small.

My third great-grandfather Benjamin Daniel Clark lived in Adams County, Ohio all of his life.  He was a farmer but I don’t know yet what he farmed.  He was born on 25 Oct 1815 and died on 24 Nov 1895 at age 80.  His parents were Stephen Clark (1771-1851) and Rebecca Cresap Ogle Clark (1783-1853).[1]  He was recorded as Daniel in census records.

Daniel was twice married, first to Hannah Carrigan (1819-1854) followed by Irene Hill (1819-1889).  He was buried at Flat Run Cemetery, Adams County, Ohio.  He and Hannah had ten children; he and Irene had four children.[2]

What’s My Line?

Daniel’s daughter Jane Clark Brown was my second great-grandmother, her daughter Ida May Brown Kendall was my first great-grandmother and her daughter, Ethel May Kendall Hibsch, was my grandmother.

The Census

Daniel Clark was enumerated in the censuses for 1850 - 1880.  I may have found him in the 1840 census.  Data points seemed consistent with the 1850 census for name, home in 1850 and person’s ages.  But who was the one free white person age 50-59?  Maybe his mother or mother-in-law?

Daniel Clark Family in 1870 U.S. Federal Census
{click image to enlarge)

The 1840 U.S. Federal census[3] only recorded the name of the head of household.  Numbers in categories sufficed for others in the household.  By comparing the 1840 and 1850 censuses (which had all family names and ages), a calculated match was made for my Clark family.  Danial [Daniel] Clark lived in Franklin Township, Adams County, Ohio.  His household consisted of one free white male under 5 [Edward Clark?]; one free white male 20 - 29 [Daniel Clark?]; two free white females under 5 [Mary and Edath Clark?]; one free white female 20 - 29 [Hannah Clark?]; one free white female 50 - 59 [mother, mother-in-law?]; one person employed in agriculture: 1 [Daniel Clark?]; six total free white persons.

In the 1850 U.S. Federal Census[4], Daniel Clark was 25, born about 1825 in Ohio and lived in Franklin Township, Adams County, Ohio.  The household consisted of wife Hanah [Hannah] Clark, 35; daughters Mary Clark, 13; Edath [Edith] Clark, 12; M A [Martha] Clark, 9; Susan Clark, 6; Jane Clark, 4; and sons Edward Clark, 11; Adam Clark, 8; and Joseph Clark, 2.  In about 1852, two more children were born, Mahlon Clark and Sarah E Clark, possibly twins.

In the 1860 U.S. Federal Census[5], David [Daniel] Clark was 44, born about 1816 in Ohio.  He lived in Franklin Township, Adams County, Ohio, post office Locust Grove.  The household consisted of his second wife Irena Clark, 40; daughters Mary Clark, 23; Adah Clark, 21;  Martha Clark, 18; Jane Clark,13; Sarah E Clark, 8; and Drousilla [Drusilla] Clark, 3; and sons Edward Clark, 20;  Adam Clark, 16; Joseph Clark, 11; Mahalon [Mahlon] Clark, 8; and Daniel Clark, 5.

In the 1870 U.S. Federal Census[6], Daniel was 54, born about 1816 in Ohio.  He lived in Franklin Township, Adams County, Ohio, post office Scott.  The household included wife Irena Clark, 51; and daughters Ada Clark, 31; Sarah E Clark, 18; Drusilla Clark, 13; and Minerva E Clark. 7; and sons Mahlon Clark, 18; Daniel W Clark, 14; and Stephen D Clark, 9; daughter-in-law Mary J Wiley, 24; and farm hand, Sanford Shoemaker, 18.  Seems Daniel was prosperous. The value of his real estate was $10,000+ and the value of his personal estate was over $1,800.

The 1880 U.S. Federal Census[7] was the last one in which Daniel was appeared before his death in 1895.  He was 64, born about 1816 in Ohio and lived in Bratton Township, Adams County, Ohio.  His father was born in Pennsylvania, his mother in Maryland.  He was a farmer.  The household included wife Irene Clark, 61; sons Stephen D. Clark, 19 and Parson A. Clark, 16; and daughter N. Ellie Clark, 12; and servant Jane Thompson, 16.

Future Research

• Obtain records for birth, marriages, land and death
• Find Daniel in the censuses for 1820 and 1830
• Determine the nature of his farming
• Determine Civil War service
• Determine if Mahlon and Sarah Clark were twins
• Learn more about the geography of Franklin and Bratton Townships

Sources

[1] Find-a-Grave.com Memorial #40382217

[2] Subject to verification - according to several public trees on Ancestry.com, Daniel married Hannah Carrigan on 6 Jun 1836 in Adams County, Ohio.  She died in 1854 after which he married Irena Hill on 6 June 1854 in Adams County, Ohio.

[3] Year: 1840; Census Place: Franklin, Adams, Ohio; Roll: 375; Page: 39; Image: 82; Family History Library Film: 0020158. Ancestry.com

[4] Year: 1850; Census Place: Franklin, Adams, Ohio; Roll: M432_657; Page: 20A; Image: 44.  Source Information: Ancestry.com.

[5] Year: 1860; Census Place: Franklin, Adams, Ohio; Roll: M653_928; Page: 250; Image: 495; Family History Library Film: 803928. Ancestry.com.

[6] Year: 1870; Census Place: Franklin, Adams, Ohio; Roll: M593_1167; Page: 10B; Image: 24; Family History Library Film: 552666. Ancestry.com.

[7] Year: 1880; Census Place: Bratton, Adams, Ohio; Roll: 989; Family History Film: 1254989; Page: 6D; Enumeration District: 001; Image: 0015. Ancestry.com

Brown, Clark and Hibsch, my Veteran Ancestors (52 Ancestors #40)

This is another article for the series "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks", a challenge by Amy Johnson Crow on No Story Too Small.

By United States Department of Veterans Affairs;
Veterans Day National Committee
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Happy Veteran's Day to my ancestors about whom I've already written and one who will soon be profiled. They served their country well in several wars.

• Thomas Brown, my second great-grandfather, from Highland County, Ohio, served in the Civil War.
• Adam Clark, my second great-uncle, from Adams County, Ohio, served in the Civil War.
• Herman August Hibsch, my second great uncle, from Los Angeles County, California, served in the Spanish American War.
• Robert Martin Hibsch, my father, from Sacramento, Sacramento County, California, served in WWII.
• Alba William Hibsch, my grandfather, from Los Angeles County, California, served in WWI.

I offer a special tip of the hat to my uncle and brothers who are also honored veterans of the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Iraqi Wars.

Thankfully, they all returned home.

Hannah Carrigan Clark of Adams County, Ohio - 52 Ancestors #37

This is another article for the series "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks", a challenge by Amy Johnson Crow on No Story Too Small.

My third great-grandmother was Hannah Carrigan, born between 1815 and 1819 in Ohio.  She married Daniel Benjamin Clark in about 1836[1] and by 1850, they had eight children.[2]  She died young I would say, at age 35, leaving a husband to care for several small children.  Daniel actually remarried and had several more children but that’s another story.

Grave stone for Hannah Carrigan Clark
Source:  Find-a-Grave [3]

The information I have about Hannah so far came from two resources:  the 1850 U.S. Federal Census for Adams County, Ohio and her memorial on Find-a-Grave.com. [3]  I organized the data from each resource into a table (below) for comparison and development of future research.

Category	1850 U.S. Federal Census	Find-a-Grave
Name	Hanah Clark	Hannah Carrigan Clark
Age/Date of Birth	35	3 Feb 1819
Age/Date of Death		7 Mar 1854 Inscription: 35y 1m 4d
Residence in 1850	Franklin Township, Adams, Ohio
Place of Birth	Ohio
Husband	Daniel Benjamin Clark	Daniel Benjamin Clark 1815 – 1895 Hannah was the first wife of Benjamin Daniel Clark, who was the son of Stephen and Rebecca Ogle Clark
Child/age	Mary Clark 13
	Edath Clark 12	Adah Clark (_ - 1872)*[4]
	Edward Clark 11[5]
	M A Clark 9[6]
	Adam Clark 8[7]
	Susan Clark 6	Susannah Clark 1842 - 1843*
	Jane Clark 4[8]
	Joseph Clark 2
Cemetery		Flat Run Cemetery Adams County, Ohio

My continued research will be centered in southwestern Ohio.  Many members of my Clark family were life-long residents of Adams County, Ohio.  Others ventured to nearby Warren, Clinton and Highland counties, all in southwestern Ohio. 

Future Research

• Find Hannah Clark’s parents and siblings
• Verify date of birth and death
• Find marriage record
• Find death record and cause of death
• Locate the Clark family in newspapers
• Check newspapers for epidemics around her date of death
• Locate church records
• Continue research on her children
• Contact person who ‘maintains’ Hannah’s Find-a-Grave memorial

Calling all descendants of Daniel Benjamin Clark and Hannah Carrigan Clark – let’s talk!  Please leave a comment below or use the Contact Me tab above.   Thanks cousin!

Sources

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[1] Calculation based on age of first child listed in 1850 U.S. Federal Census.

[2] Year: 1850; Census Place: Franklin, Adams, Ohio; Roll: M432_657; Page: 20A; Image: 44. Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. 

[3] Find-a-Grave website for Hannah Clark Carrigan

[4] * Asterisk refers to calculated relationship on Find-a-Grave.

[5] Edward Clark was mentioned in the profile of Ancestor #33, Mrs. Mary Daulton Clark

[6] Mahlon Clark was Ancestor #15, Mahlon Clark, Guardian of his Sister Jane

[7] Adam Clark was Ancestor #7, Comings and Goings of Adam Clark

[8] Jane Clark Brown was my second great-grandmother, Ancestor #2, Jane Clark Brown, 1846-1918