Friday, July 30, 2010

Friend of Friends Friday -- Two Stories, One Ends Well, The Other, Not So Much

The following article is from The New York Daily-Times, October 29, 1851; page 4. It starts out to be a good enough story, but by the end I was clenching my fists. The slave mentioned in this story is John Monroe.


The next two articles are from The New York Times, February 3,1858; page 5. This one has a more satisfying ending. The kidnapped "slave" mentioned in this article is George Anderson.



Just click on the images to read them.



Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Tombstone Tuesday -- Catherine Piggott

I stumbled upon this headstone while I was in the Liberty cemetery in Liberty, Idaho in May. I was not looking for her because she wasn't on my list of headstones to take pictures of.

Catherine Cannon Piggott was born November 3, 1873 in Salt Lake City, Utah to William Henry and Elizabeth Edwards Cannon Piggott. The child died January 5, 1877 of diphtheria during an epidemic.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Sunday's Obituary -- Sarah (Pugmire) Riley

Today's Obituary comes to you from the Salt Lake Herald, Nov 1, 1902, page 8 courtesy of Chronicling America.

Mrs. Riley was my 3rd great-grand aunt.



Friday, July 23, 2010

Friend of Friends Friday -- Runaway Slave Ads 2

The following ads are from the Weekly Standard, published in Raleigh, North Carolina, November 12, 1862, page 4.







The slave names mentioned are: Anthony, Augustus, Ellick, Hence, Miles, and Phill.

The following is a petition for division of slaves:


Sunday, July 18, 2010

Sunday's Obituary -- Mrs. Denton Miller

A couple of weeks ago I received a couple of death notices that I ordered from the Michigan City Library.

Michigan City Evening Dispatch, 30 July 1887, page 4, col. 4. 
Mrs. Denton Miller was the second wife of my kids' 4th great-grandfather, Jacob Denton Miller.  There isn't really much to this obituary, but I did learn some new information, like where she died, where and when she was buried, and the married name of one of her daughters.

Michigan City News, 14 October 1903, page 5, col. 3.  
Mrs. Catherine Griffin is the 3rd great grand aunt of my children. The only new information I learned here is the date of burial and that she was living with one of her daughters.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Friend of Friends Friday -- Runaway Slave Ads

So I finally got a NewspaperARCHIVE subscription, though limited it will serve it's purpose, or shall I say purposes. I have stumbled on to some slave information that I think falls under the 'Friend of Friends' category.

These are newspaper ads from The Torch Light And Public Advertiser, published in Hagers-town, Maryland 1825-10-25, page 3.


The named slaves are: Lewis, Joe, Levi, Charles, and Isaac.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

History 101

I have several family histories written by relatives back in the days of ditto machines ( I can smell it now) and legal size genealogy pages that I want to transcribe to text format.  I thought surely there must be someone else out there who would enjoy these jaunts back in history so today I begin the monthly edition of 'History 101'

This month's history lesson is about Niels and Rebecca (Bake) Madsen, one of my maternal great-great grandparents.




Niels and Rebecca (Bake) Madsen

In May of 1900 Rebecca and Niels (pronounced “Nels”) Madsen left their home in Southern Idaho to join a group of pioneers called by the Mormon Church to settle in the Big Horn Basin of Northern Wyoming.  They were members of Company #___, which made the 400 mile trip by wagon.  With them were their 7 living children: Orson, 19, Oliver, 17, Hazel, 14, Sarah Ronella (called Roie), 11, Vida, 9, Ivy, 4, and Franklin, 17 months old.  Hazel remembered the trip in this way: “Mother and I and the younger girls rode in the wagon, but Roie, always a tomboy, was on horseback out in front of the wagon with the boys.  Mother and I took turns holding baby Frank during the long days in the wagon.  I particularly remember a night when the wagon train was camped on the Western side of the Wind River and the Indians were camped on the other side.  It was a very strange and different place from home.”  Hazel always remembered the wind and the sand and the sagebrush.  The Madsen children who accompanied their parents to the Big Horn Basin must be counted among the original settlers as well.

Once they arrived in Wyoming, Niels and his older two boys went to work immediately on the Sidon canal and were participants in the completion of the project.  Niels is in the group picture taken at “Prayer Rock” as it split in half and rolled out of the canal’s path.  The devotion of the Madsens to their church is not well documented, but is evident by their willingness, well into their middle age, to uproot their family and move to an unpopulated, severe, and desolate place in order to follow the Church objectives.

The Madsens set up their home in the Southwest corner of the Byron town plot, and received 80 acres of farmland on the upper bench just west of the townsite.  That summer and into the fall they constructed a log cabin, from timber brought down from the Prayer Mountains, in which he family lived for the next 60 years.  They dug a root cellar, constructed out buildings, and planted lilacs.  By 1956, surrounded by giant cottonwood trees, the house was one of only three of the original log homes built in 1900 that was still standing, with relatively few changes from when it was built.  While cold running water had been piped in from the well, no other modern plumbing had ever been installed.  The property was sold around 1959 and the house torn down.  This was the end of all evidence that these brave and devout pioneers played a part in the founding of the town of Byron.

Background:  Niels and Rebecca were not new to immigration and following the call of the Mormon church.  Niels was born in Denmark on December 4, 1846.  When he was 10 years old, his whole family were converted to Mormonism during the European missionary movement.  They later immigrated to the United States and followed the emigration of the Saints to the Salt Lake Valley in or around 1860.  They set up their first home in this country in Ogden, UT, where the last of Niels’ siblings was born.  Sometime later the family relocated to the Bear Lake regions of Southwestern Idaho where Niels met and married Rebecca Bake.

Rebecca’s mother was born in Wales and her father in England.  Her parents didn’t meet on the other side of the Atlantic, however.  Her mother had married in Wales and immigrated to Pennsylvania where her first husband died in 1848.  It seems reasonable to assume that Rebecca’s parents meet in Pittsburg sometime around 1851.  Her mother must have been converted early in the Church’s history, possibly in Wales, since Rebecca’s brother, Oliver Cowdry Bake, carried the name of one of the church founders and early missionaries.  After their marriage, it appears that the Bakes went to Kentucky for a time before returning to Pittsburg, where Rebecca was born on January 25, 1857.  According to family anecdotal history, Rebecca’s father was a physician and he continued to practice medicine throughout his lifetime.  When Rebecca was 4 years old, the family joined the LDS migration by wagon and handcarts to Zion, where they settled in Goshen, Utah.  But by 1864 records show that they had moved to Bloomington, Idaho.

Niels and Rebecca were married in Bloomington on February 8, 1877.  It was here that all of their children were born.  But it was not a joyous beginning of their family.  Rebecca’s first two babies were stillborn and the third baby, named Elizabeth, lived only for a few hours.  Subsequently, they had 8 more children.  Their 10th baby born when Hannah was 40 years old, was also stillborn and two years later she gave birth to their last surviving child.  He was just over one year old when they journeyed north to the Big Horn Basin.  Niels died in Byron on September 7, 1921 and Rebecca survived him by another 18 years.  She died in her home on October 26, 1939 at the age of 82 years.

Their Legacy -- the children:  Henry Orson worked with his father on the Sidon Canal and on the farm; he never married.  Sometime in 1931 he injured his leg and as a result requird progressive amputations which were unsuccessful in deterring the spread of infection.  He died from gangrene poisoning at the age of 50.  Jacob Oliver, the second son, also remained a bachelor.  He contracted influenza when he was 35 and was a victim of the great flu epidemic of 1918.

Hazel, the oldest daughter, returned to Bloomington, where she married William Piggott in 1910.  They had a long and happy life together and raised their family of four sons and one daughter in Bloomington, whre she died on January 1, 1968.  Roie, always headstrong and willful, moved to the Big Horn area of Montana where she married Robert Stewart Smith.  They were the parents of seven daughters and one son.  She died in Billings at the age of 70.  Ivy, also left Byron when she was a young woman, and in 1919 married Malcolm Crocker in the Big Horn area of Montana where she lived out her life.  They had one son and one daughter.  She died in 1979 at the age of 85.

Franklin Bake Madsen, the last of Rebecca and Niels’ children, lived in and around Byron for most of his life.  After his mother’s death, Frank moved to the Madsen homesite where he lived with his family and grew his incomparable vegetable gardens.  He was a self-taught musician, with a lovely tenor voice -- his talent inherited by a grandson he never knew.  His singing as he accompanied himself on the mandolin, or the sound of the old tunes he played on his harmonica, are cherished memories.  He worked in the oil fields, and farmed the 40 acres* he inherited from his mother.  Frank died of cancer in his family’s original log house in 1953.  He is buried in the Madsen family plot in the Byron cemetery beside his parents and his brothers.  Frank was married three times.  In 1926, he married Dezzie McLamore Lindsay (who had two children == Tommy and Virginia Lindsay; they lived with their father in Byron).  Frank and “Dez” had one daughter, Frances, who would be the last direct descendant of Niels and Rebecca to carry the Madsen name (although later his stepsons changed their names to Madsen). In 1945, Frank married Helen Dudley, mother of two sons, Neil and Larry. While the children all attended and graduated from Byron High School, no one bearing the Madsen name has lived in Byron for over 40 years.

*Of possible interest:  Sometime in the 1940’s Frank sold 15 acres of the farm to Don and Lou Snyder.  Today, the D&L Motel and Café sits on original land homesteaded by the Madsen’s in 1900.  Another forty acre plot across the highway, on the river bluff, lies fallow.  It is presumed this land is still titled to multiple Madsen heirs (under the trusteeship of Roie Smith’s only son, Robert since the early 1960’s)  However, since his death two or three years ago, it is unclear what the status of the land is at this time.  An inquiry will be made at the County offices in the near future.

This narrative of the Madsen family, original settlers of the town of Byron, was provided by Frances (Madsen) Towle.  This is a “work in progress”, prepared from memory and assumption.  Anyone who can add stories, facts, or corrections, please contact her.  Particularly interested in personal information about her father and mother.

I don't know when Frances wrote this (she doesn't either -- lol), but it was many years ago.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Tombstone Tuesday -- PIggott

Here is another  headstone from the snowy cemetery escapade in Bear Lake last May.  This is the Bloomington cemetery.
William C. Piggott May 7, 1885 - Nov 7, 1971 & Hazel R. Piggott Apr 14, 1886 - Jan 1, 1968.
Next to them are two of the babies that they lost.
The little boy was named Henry after Hazel's maternal grandfather and Mathias after her maternal grandmother.  The little girl Elizabeth was named after William's mother.

I was also able to get a copy of one of my favorite photos of great-grandma & grandpa Piggott from mom while I was in Idaho.
William Cannon & Hazel Rebecca Madsen Piggott


Monday, July 12, 2010

Driving Around Bear Lake

While I was in Bear Lake this last May sister drove us around so I could take pictures of all the ancestral homes in the area, including the one where I lived when I was a baby.  We were having so much fun taking pictures, we even tried to duplicate some that were taken years ago.

Aunt Jean and me in 1963
and 2010.

This was my very first home in Paris, Idaho.  Before we got to the house we were talking about duplicating the pictures and she made me promise not to stand on the fence.  Fortunately the fence is no longer there or I probably would have tried anyway >:).


Sunday, July 11, 2010

Sunday's Obituary -- William Piggott



This is the obituary of my gr-great-grandfather William Henry Piggott.  This particular image was sent to me by cousin Cindy (Thanks bunches cuz).  She got it from the Salt Lake City Main Library from the Deseret News.

WILLIAM PIGGOTT DIES AT HOME OF DAUGHTER

   Randolph, Feb. 9-- William Piggott, 79 years of age, and a pioneer of the early sixties, died here yesterday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Alice C. Reay. The cause of death was Bright's disease, from which Mr. Piggott had been a sufferer four years.  He was a resident of Bloomington, Idaho where he had been postmaster and prominient in business circles for many years.  He moved from Utah to southern Idaho about 30 years ago, and engaged in the lumber business, building up a large trade and becoming known as a leading merchant of the community.
   Mr. Piggott was born in Massachusetts where he joined the Church of Jeseus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  In 1870 he married Elizabeth Cannon, youngest sister of the late President George Q. Cannonn.  At the time of his death Mr. Piggott was visiting at the home of his daughter where he was stricken with his last illness.  He is survived by his widow and the following children: Mrs. John A. South and Mrs. Alice C. Reay of Randolph; Mrs. Leonora Hatch of Georgetown and William and George Q. Piggott of Bloomington.  He also has a sister in Salt Lake City, Mrs. Abbie Piggott Slater, living at 237 east Sixth South street.
   Funeral services will be held at Bloomington Tuesday Feb 11.
--Deseret News Feb 10, 1913

There are some errors in this obit. William married Elizabeth Cannon in 1869, and his brother George's middle initial was C. not Q. Also, Leonora's last name was Hess, not Hatch. It says that he died of Bright's Disease but his death certificate says he died of diabetes mellitus and the contributing factor was gangrene of legs.



* Update - I have just done a little research and according to Schoolworkhelper, Bright's Disease was a broad description of many diseases characterized by the inflammation of the nephron. So more than likely William had the diabetes first.

There is an article on Diabetes that I found in The 1911 Classic Encyclopedia based on the 11th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica published in 1911.  This was two years before Gr-great-grandpa died.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Tombstone Tuesday -- Oliver Bake Piggott

Uncle "Ollie" was born 2 Dec 1920 in Bloomington, Idaho and died 20 July 2006 Hillcrest Haven Convalescent Center in Pocatello, Idaho.  He was buried 26 Jul 2006 in the Bloomington cemetery.

He enlisted in the Army Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1943.  Oliver was a farmer, ranch hand, and all around handy man.  I even have his Idaho Brand Certificate.

This is uncle Ollie standing in front of great-grandpa Piggott's (his father) old blacksmith shop.


Sunday, July 4, 2010

Sunday's Obituary -- Frank Madsen

I decided that I wanted to start posting the obituaries that I have in my collection, after all they may be of some use to someone else.  So today the weekly post "Sunday's Obituary" is born.

The first one I want to share was among the stuff that grandma Hazel saved.  It is the obituary of her brother, Franklin Bake Madsen.  There is no clue as to the name of the newspaper, however.


Funeral Services Held For Frank Madsen

Funeral services for Franklin Bake Madsen were held Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Byron LDS chapel with Bishop Ernest Jensen officiating. Haskell Funeral Home was in charge.
Mr. Madsen passed from this life Saturday morning at 11:40 a.m. at his home in Byron following a lingering illness. Those present at his bedside were his immediate family, two sisters, and one brother-in-law, Mrs. Sarah Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Roy (should say William) Piggott.
Mrs. Charles Hessenthaler played soft organ music for the prelude and postlude. The invocation was given by Louis Wolz. The choir under the direction of Mrs. Louis Wolz sang, "Not Now But in the Years to Come," accompanied by Naomi Abraham. Vern Wilcock accompanied by Miss Abraham sang "Going Home." The sermon was given by Dess Wilson of Cowley. Miss Abraham and Mrs. Hessenthaler sang "Beyond The Sunset," accompanied by Mrs. Walter Stevens. Mrs. Nellie Vail gave the obituary, Cliff Powelson gave the benediction.
Pallbearers were Ed Pryde, Harry Leslie, Melvin Knopp, Rheudy Meredith, Al Davis and Solomon Sena. Burial was in the Byron cemetery with Wilford Mower dedicating the grave.

Obituary

Franklin Bake Madsen was born Jan. 3, 1899 in Dingle, Idaho, the son of Neils and Rebecca Bake Madsen, the youngest of seven children. His parents, two brothers and one sister have preceded him in death.
Frank came with his family to the Big Horn basin n 1900 when but one year old. He received his schooling in Byron where he was active in athletic programs, taking part in baseball, basketball and other sports.
While still very young he was left with his mother and brother to care for. After his brother Orson's death he stayed home to care for his mother until her passing.
On Sept. 1, 1936 he married Mrs. Virginia Lindsay and to this union one daughter, Francess Ann, was born. On Jan 8, 1945, he married Mrs. Helen Rominger Dudley of American Fork, Utah , the mother of two sons, Neil and Larry. These boys with his daughter make up his family.
Frank has been employed in the oil fiedls in and near Byron except for the few years he worked in the oil fields at Lusk and Lance Creek, and the short time he was employed at Geneva Steel in Utah.
He is surived by his wife, Helen; one daughter, Frances Ann; two sons, Neil and Larry, and three sisters, Mrs. Hazel Piggott of Bloomington, Idaho, Mrs. Sarah Smith of Bilings, and Mrs. Ida Crocker of Sayle, Montana.
Those coming from Utah to attend the funeral were Mrs. Madsen's mother, Mrs. Rominger, her sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Almond Bain of American Fork, Mr. Madsen's sisters, Mrs. Piggott and husband and Mrs. Smith.

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
The Breast Cancer Site