52 Ancestors Week 2: Favorite Family Photos

What's the story behind one of your favorite family photos?

It is nearly impossible for me to choose just one favorite family photo out of the many that I have; however, among my favorites are those of family reunions. They even provided me with the inspiration I needed for coordinating a family reunion in 2013.

The first photo was taken at the 50th anniversary party of my 2nd great grandparents, William and Olive (LaGrange) Beard (seated in the center of the photo) in 1949. The couple married on 11 March 1899 and together had nine children. My great grandmother, Elizabeth, who is standing between William & Olive's heads, once wrote a poem about eight of the children (the 9th was either a still birth or died very shortly after birth). Click here to read her poem.

The next reunion photo I have was taken at the 40th anniversary party for my great grandparents, George and Elizabeth (Beard) Baker in 1972. You may recognize Elizabeth from the previous photo. In this photo, the happy couple is surrounded by their 11 children. The eldest 5 children were from my great grandfather's first marriage to Ruth Miller (1903-1931). Following Ruth's death, George married Elizabeth and she cared for Ruth's children as if they were her own.

The final photo was taken at the Baker/Beard family reunion I coordinated in 2013 on the grounds of the Lamoille County Field Days in Johnson, Vermont (I am standing to the far left in the brown shirt). You can read about the reunion by clicking here.

Baker Family Cape Cod to Vermont

About seven months ago I posted about the family of Cornelius Baker & Almira (Thomas) Ingalls and their descendants. This had been a huge brick wall in my genealogy for many years, but a few nights ago I came upon a record that would lead me back to my 10th great grandparents, Francis Baker and Isabel Twining.

I was able to conclude that Cornelius was born out of wed-lock and the Baker surname was his mother, Caroline's, maiden name. I have not found any record that lists his father (though I plan to visit the town clerk in Johnson, Vermont soon to see if I can find a birth record with his name on it there). Once I realized that Caroline's maiden name was Baker, I was able to do some searching and find her parents, and from there my brick wall came crashing down!

Here is what I discovered, starting with my 10th great grandfather:

Francis Baker was born in 1611 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England. He arrived in Boston, Massachusetts via The Planter in 1635 and would settle in Yarmouth, Massachusetts. He married Isabel Twining on 17 Jun 1641 in Yarmouth. According to one source, he died in 1696. Children of Francis Baker and Isabel Twining were:

1. John Baker (see below)
2. Samuel Baker, b. 1 May 1648 in Yarmouth
3. Daniel Baker, b. 2 Sep 1650 in Yarmouth
4. William Baker
5. Thomas Baker
6. Elizabeth Baker
7. Hannah Baker

John Baker was born on 1 May 1645 in Yarmouth. He married Alice Pierce in 1672 in Yarmouth. The only child I have (so far) for John & Alice is their son, Jonathon Baker.

Jonathan Baker was born on 31 May 1672 in Yarmouth. He married Hannah Jones on 13 Apr 1699 in Yarmouth. They had at least one son, Lot Baker.

Lot Baker was born on 16 Jan 1721/22 in Yarmouth. He married Desire Berry on either 1 Mar 1743 or 23 Nov 1743 (there are records for both). Children of Lot Baker and Desire Berry (all born in Yarmouth) were:

1. Hannah Baker, b. 19 Sep 1744
2. Lot Baker, b. 26 Apr 1746
3. Desire Baker, b. 25 Jul 1748
4. Hezekiah Baker (see below)
5. Patience Baker, b. 7 Nov 1749
6. Stephen Baker, b. 18 Nov 1754
7. Theodore Baker, b. 18 Apr 1757
8. Abijah Baker, b. 23 Jun 1764
9. Jerusha Baker, b. 23 Jun 1764

Hezekiah Baker was born on 7 Nov 1749 in Yarmouth. He married Abigail Weeks on 1 Nov 1772 in Yarmouth. Children of Hezekiah Baker and Abigail Weeks were:

1. Barzillai Baker, b. 12 Jul 1780 in Yarmouth
2. Hezekiah Baker (see below)

Hezekiah Baker was born on 8 Nov 1791 in Yarmouth. I know he married a woman named Betsy, though I am not sure if this was the name of my 5th great grandmother as I have seen her name listed as Dacia. Hezekiah died on 15 Aug 1873 in Hyde Park Vermont. He at least had the following children:

1. Caroline Baker (see below)
2. James Baker b. abt 1841 in Johnson, Vermont

Caroline Baker was born on 18 Jan 1824 in Morrisville, Vermont. She had my 3rd great grandfather, Cornelius, illegitimately, but married Mitchell Gearwar a few years later. She died on 25 Apr 1897 and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Morrisville. Besides Cornelius she had the following children with Mitchell Gearwar:

1. Charles Edgar Gearwar, b. abt. 1846
2. Ann Maria Gearwar, b. abt. 1847
3. William Gearwar, b. abt. 1849

For information about Cornelius and his descendants, see my original post, Baker Family of Lamoille County, Vermont.

Surname Saturday: Seeking Charles Childs, son of Theron Childs

This surname Saturday post is going to be short and sweet as I really don't know a whole lot about the Childs family. I am hoping someone out there may be able to shed some light for me.

I know that my maternal 4th great grandparents were Theron Childs and his wife, Anna Parks. They had at least one son, my 3rd great grandfather, Charles H. Childs, in 1873. Charles married Mary Ann Jones in Morrisville, Lamoille, Vermont on 19 April 1894. Mary Ann was born in July 1876 in Hyde Park, Lamoille, Vermont, the daughter of Ruel Judson Jones and Philena Hill.

Charles Childs and Mary Ann Jones had the following children:

1. Minnie Belle Childs: My 2nd great grandmother. See below.
2. Olive Childs: b. 8 Nov 1896 in Johnson, Lamoille, Vermont.
3. Thomas Charles Childs: b. 1898, d. 28 Apr 1898 in Morrisville, Lamoille Vermont 
4. Norma Beatrice Childs: b. 1 Jan 1900 in Woodbury Washington, Vermont
5. Vena May Childs: b. 2 Feb 1908 in Woodbury, Washington, Vermont

Minnie Belle Childs was born on 29 May 1894 in Morrisville, Lamoille, Vermont. She married Daniel James Baker on 14 Aug 1912 in Hyde Park, Lamoille, Vermont.She died on 28 Feb 1963 in Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont and is buried in Johnson, Lamoille, Vermont.

Minnie Belle Childs with Old Jumbo Cat

Minnie Childs and Daniel Baker had the following children: 

1. Gladys Mabel Baker: See my previous post, Surname Saturday: Baker Family of Lamoille County, Vermont for more information on her.
2. Daniel Lee Baker: See my previous post, Black Sheep Sunday: Jailhouse Death, for more information on him.
3. Ilda M Baker: b. 22 Apr 1926, d. Sept 1992.
4. Irene R Baker: b. 8 Feb 1930, d. Jan 1984.

Wordless Wednesday: The Silly Side of My Great Grandfather

This is one of my favorite photo of my great grandfather, George Baker. 

I love the face he is making!

Surname Saturday: Descendants of Elijah and Jane Beard

Disclaimer: As always, my genealogy is a work in progress. There is a lot of information I have yet to locate and possible discrepancies in information already found. While all of my information is sourced in my genealogy software, I am not going to take the time to type all that out here. If you would like a source citation for a particular event, please ask.

If you are related to this family, I want to hear from you!

My fifth great grandparents were Elijah E and Jane Beard (I know nothing of Jane except her first name). Elijah was born about September 1764 in Scotland and died on 14 Jun 1853 in Berkshire, Franklin, Vermont. He is buried in the Berkshire Center Cemetery (his tombstone is on FindAGrave.com).

Children of Elijah and Jane Beard were:

1. Elijah Beard: b. abt. Sept 1794 in New Hampshire, m. Lucy Horn 
2. David Beard (my 4th great grandfather. See below).

Young David Beard

David Beard was born abt. 1819 in Stanstead, Quebec, Canada. He married Jane Doan/Dean(e). He died on 18 Aug 1899 in Barre, Washington, Vermont.

       Jane Doan/Dean(e) was born in Underhill, Chittenden, Vermont.

Children of David and Jane Beard were:

1. Huldah Ann Beard: b. 09 Aug 1842 in Brome, Quebec, Canada. She m. Willam John McMurray on 13 Mar 1860 in Vermont. She d. 23 Aug 1925 in Coventry, Orleans, Vermont.
2. Eliza Beard: b. abt. 1845 in Quebec, Canada
3. Myron B. Beard: b. Nov 1846. He d. 25 Jul 18448 in Coventry, Orleans, Vermont.
4. Henry Harrison Beard: b. abt. March 1849 in Underhill, Vermont. He m. Nina Danforth on 28 Jun 1911 in Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts
5. Roland Smith Beard: (my 3rd great grandfather. See below).
6. George W Beard: b. abt 1854, m. Ida Bundy on 15 Apr 1876 in Swanton, Franklin, Vermont
7. Young David Beard: b. abt. Nov 1855. d. 25 Feb 1877 in Coventry, Orleans, Vermont.

Seated: Roland Beard and
Florence Kittell

Roland S Beard was born on 4 Jun 1851 in Underhill, Chittenden, Vermont. He married Florence Eliza Kittell on 4 Jun 1872 in Sheldon, Franklin, Vermont. He died on 20 May 1930 in Lamoille County, Vermont and is buried in Pleasant View Cemetery in Morrisville, Lamoille, Vermont.

        Florence Eliza Kittell was born in 1850 in Fairfield, Franklin, Vermont to         William Riley Kittell and Elizabeth Eliza Lanpher. She died on 18 May             1927 in Morrisville, Vermont and is buried in Pleasant View Cemetery in         Morrisville.

Children of Roland S Beard and Florence Eliza Kittell were:

1. Marcia Eliza Beard: b. 16 May 1874 in Sheldon, Franklin Vermont, m. Herbert Robbins, d. 1 Sept 1956 in Wolcott, Lamoille, Vermont
2. Melvin H Beard: b. 1876 in Vergennes, Addison, Vermont, d. 1901
3. William Riley Beard (My 2nd great grandfather. See below)
4. Harry Beard: b. and d. in 1881.

William Beard and
Olive "Grace" LaGrange

William Riley Beard was born on 4 Dec 1877 in Sheldon, Franklin, Vermont. He m. Olive Elizabeth LaGrange on 11 Mar 1899. He died on 12 Feb 1956 in Waterbury, Washington Vermont. He is buried in Pleasant View cemetery n Morrisville, Vermont.

        Olive Elizabeth "Grace" LaGrange was born on 4 May 1878 in Sheldon,             Franklin, Vermont to Abraham LaGrange and Elizabeth Isabel Renney.               She died on 9 Sept 1963 in Morrisville, Lamoille, Vermont. She is buried           in Pleasant View Cemetery in Morrisville.

Children of William Beard and Olive LaGrange were (see a poem my great grandmother, Elizabether (Beard) baker wrote about her siblings here: Our Family Tree):

1. Clyde Archival Beard: b. 13 Jan 1900 in Palmer, Massachusetts, m. Lula Mae Melvin, d. 18 Mar 1957 in Chelsea, Orange, Vermont
2. Beulah Olive beard: b. 5 Jan 1902 in Sheldon, Franklin, Vermont, m. Harold Allen on 2 Jul 1921 in Morrisville, Vermont, d. 4 Sep 1994 in Bradford, Orange, Vermont
3. Wilma Rita Beard, b. 16 Apr 1903 in Hyde park, Lamoille, Vermont, m. Rufus W. Stancliffe on 16 Apr 1921 in Morrisville, Vermont, d. 16 Aug 1984 in Morrisville, Vermont
4. Infant Girl Beard: b. 23 May 1905 in Hyde Park, Vermont (probably stillborn)
5. Lillian W. Beard: b. 1906, m. Edward Peterson, d. aft. 1963
6. Gerald William Beard: 30 Oct 1906 in Morrisville, Vermont, m. Mildred E Willis on 7 Mar 1926 in Morrisville, Vermont, d. 19 Jul 1972 in Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut
7. Elizabeth Florence Beard (My great grandmother): b. 16 Oct 1911 in Morrisville, Vermont, m. George Dewey Baker on 23 Aug 1932, d. 22 Dec 1995 in Morrisville, Vermont. She is buried in Pleasant View Cemetery in Morrisville, Vermont
8. Ardell Floye Beard: b. 20 Feb 1918, m. Raymond Rebman, d. abt. 1987
9. Robert Melvin Beard: b. 26 May 1921 in Morrisville, Vermont, m. Mabel Beardsley Rouse on 8 Sept 1942, d. 3 Dec 1991

William and Olive Beard (Center) 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1949.

Surname Saturday: Baker Family of Lamoille County, Vermont

Update: I have found more information about Cornelius's ancestors since writing this post. Please see my latest post, Baker Family Cape Cod to Vermont.

My 3rd great-grandfather, Cornelius H Baker, was born about 17 May 1842 in or near Johnson, Lamoille, Vermont. He married Almira M (Thomas) Ingalls on 4 July 1864 in Johnson. He died on 19 Jan 1909 in Eden, Lamoille, Vermont. His mother, Caroline, is listed on his death certificate. Her place of birth was Vergennes, Addison, Vermont. There is no name given for his father, but census records list his birth location as Germany or Vermont.        
Almira M Thomas was born in Oct 1841 in Belvidere, Lamoille, Vermont. She was the daughter of William Thomas from Fairfield, Addison, Vermont and Sally Stancliff from Halifax [Canada?]. Almira died on 20 Apr 1917.

Cornelius and Almira had the following children:

1. Charles C Baker b. 30 Dec 1865 in Johnson, m. Nora Emory on 29 Sep 1889 in Eden, d. 31 Jul 1935
2. Caroline M Baker b. 1869, m. William Griswold on 5 Mar 1885.
3. Emma A Baker b. 23 Oct 1871 in Belvidere, m. Dan Adams on 1 Jun 1890 in Johnson
4. Frank M Baker b. 10 Apr 1874 in Belvidere
5. Harrison B Baker b. 4 Jun 1876 in Belvidere, m. Lilah Mae Bidwell
6. Daniel James Baker (my 2nd great grandfather, see below)
7. George H Baker b. 29 Jul 1885, m. Anna Jones

My 2nd great grandfather, Daniel James Baker, was born on 3 Jan 1877 in Belvidere, Lamoille, Vermont. He married Minnie Belle Childs on 14 Aug 1912 in Belvidere. He died on 7 Nov 1949 in Windham, Vermont.

Minnie Belle Childs Baker

      

Minnie Belle Childs was born on 29 May 1894 in Morrisville, Lamoille, Vermont. She was the daughter of Charles H Childs and May Ann Jones from Hyde Park, Lamoille, Vermont. Minnie died on 28 Feb 1963 in Morrisville. She is buried in Johnson.

Obituary for Minnie
Belle Childs Baker

Daniel and Minnie had the following children:

1. Gladys Mabel Baker (My great grandmother, see below)
2. Daniel Lee Baker b. 20 Oct 1919 in Belvidere, d. 22 Apr 1945 in Hyde Park (see my previous post about Daniel Lee Baker)
3. Ilda M Baker b. 22 Apr 1926, m. ______ Allen, d. Sep 1992
4. Irene R Baker b. 8 Feb 1930, m. _____ Wade, d. Jan 1984

Gladys Baker Wallace

My great grandmother, Gladys Baker, was born on 9 Sep 1916 in Belvidere, Lamoille, Vermont. She married Hezekiah Truman Wallace on 10 Mar 1930 in Cambridge, Lamoille, Vermont. She died on 12 Jun 1967 in Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont. 

      

Hezekiah Truman Wallace on Right

Hezekiah Truman Wallace was born on 29 Jan 1907 in New Hampton, Hillsborough, New Hampshire. He was the son of William Henry Wallace of Tyngsboro, Middlesex, Massachusetts and Blanche L Corbin of Charleston, New Hampshire. Hezekiah died on 20 Sep 1976 in Montpelier, Washington, Vermont.

The Book of Me, Prompt 7 - Grandparents (Part 1)

These Book of Me posts are inspired by weekly prompts provided by Julie at Angler's Rest.

My earliest memory is of my grandmother getting a wooden puzzle out of a closet for me. That's actually the only memory I have of her. She died when I was 3 of a brain tumor that was caused from lung cancer. Her name was Esther (Wallace) Baker, and she was the daughter of Hezekiah Truman Wallace and Gladys Baker.

Four short years after my grandmother's death, her husband, my grandfather, died of prostate cancer. His name was Gary Baker and he was the son of George Baker and Elizabeth Beard.

Both of my grandparents were from Lamoille County, Vermont. They purchased a home together in Pinewood Estates in Morrisville, just off the Needle Eye Road.  It was a single story, white ranch. I remember a half wall as you came in the living room door. There was also a basement door in the kitchen, near the kitchen door. I remember my grandfather coming home from work one day in his coveralls (he worked for Bourne's Oil company), walking through the kitchen door and proceeding into the basement. It's funny the things you can remember.

I remember my grandfather gave me a pink bike with a banana seat for my 7th birthday. It was my first 2-wheeler bike, and I had it for several years. I loved that bike, mostly because it was the last gift he ever bought for me. My father sent it to the scrapyard when he sold my childhood home. It broke my heart.

I was very close to my grandparents from what I am told, and I was the apple of their eyes. My grandfather used to carry a siily photo of me in the tub when I was around 2 or 3. My hair was spiked with shampoo, and he would proudly show the photo off saying, "this is my Poopsie." I wish they would have lived longer. I would have loved to have gotten to know them better and be able to write out a long post about them.

Baker/Beard Family Reunion 2013

It has been several months since about 50 descendants of William & Olive Beard came together. Our family reunion was held on 24 Aug 2013 at the site of the Lamoille County Field Days in Johnson, Vermont. It was a great afternoon filled with stories, hugs, and laughter.
One of the personal highlights of the day for me was meeting some cousins for the first time. This included a couple of cousins I met while researching genealogy. What amazing moments to be able to talk to these wonderful women in person!
Another of my favorite parts of the day is when one of the aforementioned cousins gifted to me a jewelry box that was handmade by my great grandfather about 60-70 years ago. The box is now sitting high on a shelf in my living room and is cherished immensely!
Here are some photos from the reunion. Enjoy!

Those Places Thursday: Panton, Vermont

The Holcomb family had a prominent part in building the town of Panton, Vermont. Panton a rural town in Addison County, is adjacent to Lake Champlain and Vergennes (Vermont's smallest city). Among the original proprietors of the town, in 1702, were David Holcomb, Timothy Holcomb, and Timothy Holcomb, Jr. I have not yet been able to show how I relate to these individuals, although I am almost certain I do not descend from them directly. I am, however, certain that there is a collateral relationship.

Other early Panton settlers include my 6th great-grandfather, Phineas Holcomb (1726-1781) and my 5th great-grandfather (Phineas' son), Joseph Holcomb (abt. 1762-1833). Phineas, Joseph, and three of Phineas' other sons (Joshua, Elisha and Samuel) were kidnapped by Indians in 1778. They were taken to Quebec via a "vessel that was anchored Lake Champlain." (The Hocum Family by Mabel Hocum Adams p. 65-66). Joshua, Samuel, and Phineas died in 1781 from hardships they suffered during their capture. Joseph and Elisha were released from capture in 1882.

The Holcomb family resided in the toe town of Panton for many years. My 3rd great-grandfather, George Andrew Holcomb (who is pictured above) was a soldier in the Civil War. His daughter, my 2nd great-grandmother, Rose Holcomb (image on right), birthed my great-grandfather, George Dewey (Holcomb) Baker, while still residing in Panton. She later married Carl Baker and moved to Lamoille County, Vermont where she lived out her years.

I would love to know if there are Holcomb descendants still residing in Panton. If so, I would love the opportunity to connect with them.

Sunday's Obituary: Fredrick H. Richardson

My great-grandfather, George D. (Holcomb) Baker, was the illegitimate child of Rose Holcomb and Fred Richardson. According to family stories, Rose and Fred met while he was on a business trip in town. They had a short fling, which resulted in Rose becoming pregnant. Rose later married Carl Baker, and my great-grandfather assumed his last name (I am not sure if Carl adopted him, or not).

According to my great-grandfather's birth record, Fred Richardson was born in Rutland (with a ? next to the town's name), and his occupation was listed as "insurance". Upon researching any Fred Richardson's from the Rutland, Vermont area, I came up with one, the son of Clark and Harriet (Sargent) Richardson. Clark died eleven months prior to the birth of my grandfather. Could his son have traveled to Vergennes, where Rose lived, to take care of after-death matters regarding his father's estate (Clark was the owner of the Berwick Hotel in Rutland, and also ran a construction business)? It seems to be a viable theory that needs further exploration.

I am not certain that this Fred Richardson is my great great-grandfather, but I am also not certain that he isn't.

Frederick H. Richardson
Dies at His Rooms After Long Illness With Cirrhosis of the Liver

After an illness lasting since March 20, Frederick H. Richardson of No. 51 Wales Street, died at his rooms, last evening about 8 o'clock with cirrhosis of the liver.
July 22, 1861, being the son of Clark F., and Harriett L. Richardson. His father built and for many years was proprietor of the Berwick Hotel on Center Street.

Mr. Richardson attended Harvard University for two years after spending some time in a preparatory school in Massachusetts. He was a charter member of the Rutland lodge of Elks, to which society he belonged until several years ago.

Mr. Richardson is survived by no near relatives, the nearest being cousins, among whom are George J. Sargent of Mendon and Henry W. Richardson of this city. There are other cousins on the Pacific coast. (Ruland Daily Herald, 12 Aug 1914)

From Hobby to Business: My Great-Grandfather's Talent for Woodworking

My great-grandfather, George D. Baker (born George D. Holcomb) created beautiful wooden crafts. His craft began as a hobby after purchasing a small wood kit, and eventually turned into a small business for himself.

My great-grandfather was the father of 11. His oldest five children were with his first wife, Ruth Miller, who died a little more than a week after the birth of their last child. The infant was placed for adoption, and my great-grandfather cared for the others, as a single father, until he married my great-grandmother, Elizabeth F. Beard, who he had seven more children with (one whom was born still).

My great-grandfather began making items, such as cigarette boxes, sewing kits, bookends, and more. My great-grandmother was quite confident in her husband's wood-crafting skills, and suggested that he market his crafts to people around his hometown. A few weeks prior to Christmas 1945, she brought some of his creations into town where she was able to gather multiple orders, keeping my great-grandfather busy for several weeks.

Orders for his wood products continued to come in, keeping my great-grandfather busy in his woodworking shop each morning. He eventually started making and selling large items, such as corner closets. In a newspaper article, published in the News and Citizen on 29 July 1946, he quoted "I built the first one for my wife, then several persons visited here, saw them and ordered them for their own homes." (Oh, how I would love to have one of his corner closets).

Below are photos of a jewelry box he made. The box is currently in the possession of my grandfather's cousin in Florida. (Update 01/01/2014: During a family reunion in Aug. 2013, the box was gifted to me by the aforementioned cousin. It now sits proudly on my living room bookshelf. Thank you so much, Mona!

Black Sheep Sunday: Jailhouse Death

Create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

According to a family story, my great-granduncle, Daniel Lee Baker, died in his jail cell in Hyde Park, Vermont. It was uncertain how he died, but there was some speculation that he hung himself.

I located his death certificate on Ancestry.com, which lists his cause of death as "obstruction of air passage with food due to acute alcoholism with vomiting." So it seems that Daniel did not hang himself, but rather choked on his own vomit while he was drunk. However, it still not known if he died at the jailhouse or not. The death certificate does list his place of death as Hyde Park, Vermont, which is where the jailhouse is located, but it doesn't specify a particular building or institution, so I suppose that part of the mystery remains unsolved for now.

Daniel Lee Baker was born on 20 Oct 1919 in Belvidere, Vermont. His parents were Daniel James Baker (03 Jan 1877 - 07 Nov 1949) and Minnie Belle Childs (29 May 1894 - 28 Feb 1963). He was never married, nor did he have any children. He died on 22 Apr 1945 in Hyde Park, Vermont.

Wordless Wednesday: The Old Gray House

The old Gray House: Cadys Falls, Morrisville, Vermont. This is the home where my great-grandparents, George and Elizabeth (Beard) Baker raised 11 kids! The house no longer exists.