William and Elizabeth (Blauser) Bly Family

While researching Sophia for my Tombstone Tuesday post today, this family reveals a very sad story. William and Elizabeth had 10 Children and only three survived their childhood. In 1850 William and Elizabeth are in Ohio living with the first two of their 10 children, Caroline(1847) and Abraham(1850). Sally Ann is born in Fairfield Ohio in 1852. Between 1852 and 1854, William and his family have moved from Ohio to the Zanesville, Indiana area where Nancy Isobella is born in 1854 followed by Phebe Elizabeth in 1857 and Lafayette Valentine in 1859.

The 1860 Federal Census, shows Caroline, Abraham,Sally, Nancy, Phoebe, Lafayette. In 1861 Noah William is born. In 1863 Phoebe Elizabeth dies on Mar 14, 1865 and Lafayette Valentine dies a few months later on March 9, 1863. Noah William is born in January of 1861 but dies four years later on September 27, 1865. Noah was never recorded on a Federal Census. Sophia is born on March 14, 1865.

Mary Elizabeth Bly and Nancy Bly

In the 1870 Federal Census, it lists Wm, Mary, Abraham, Sally, Nancy, and Mary Rebecca. There is no sign of Sophia Eliz. Makes me wonder if she is already sick and in a hospital somewhere. By the Federal Census of 1880, Elizabeth who is now divorced is shown with Abraham, Nancy, Mary Rebecca. She is living next to her brother Noah Blauser and his family. 

Divorce was pretty unusual in 1880. It usually happen when a family was abandoned. According to a Newspaper article in the Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel dated July 16, 1879, Elizabeth Bly has requested a divorce after William Bly due to his refusal to support her and the children. The case will be brought before Judge O'Rourke. On August 6, 1879, there is a Notice in the Fort Wayne Sentinel, issued by the Allen County Circuit Court Elizabeth Bly vs William Bly requesting that he appear in court to determine his whereabouts and to settle his case with Elizabeth. He has apparently been missing and is no longer in the state of Indiana. I did not see any further newspaper article so it seems that the divorce was indeed awarded to Elizabeth.

William Bly  and Mary Rebecca (Bly) Smith

This photo posted by a Bly Family researcher seems to indicate that William spent the remainder of his day with his daughter Mary Rebecca Bly Smith in Kansas City.  His Obit seems to indicate that he was a boarder on Tayler Street in Fort Wayne at the time of his death.  I never did find his actual Obit. Over a fifteen year span, illness ravaged this poor family killing seven of the ten children. You cant help but wonder if this contributed to the break down of this family.

Happy Hunting,

Jan

Tombstone Tuesday - February 23, 2016 - Sophia Elizabeth Bly

Sophia Elizabeth Bly

Born the daughter of Wm and Mary Elizabeth Blauser Bly born on March 14 1865 near Nine Mile, in Lafayette Township, Allen County, Indiana.  William and Mary Elizabeth Bly had ten children; Caroline(1847), Abraham(1850), Sally(1852), Nancy(1854), Phoebe(1857), Lafayette(1859), Noah(1861), Sophia(1865), Mary Rebecca(1869) and Franklin(1871).  She died on February 23, 1878 of Diptheria and is buried in Old Cemetery, Zanesville, Indiana. I have been unable to identify whether Old Cemetery is in fact the old section of Hoverstock Cemetery .  I will try to determine what Cemetery this is. There is likely no stone for Sophia.

Tombstone Tuesday - February 16, 2016 - Erma E Densmore Neal

Erma E Densmore Neal

Erma E Densmore was born on November 12, 1916 in Reese,  Michigan. She was the second of four children born to John Edward and Thelma Albert Fisk Densmore.  Their children included; Fredrick John(1915), Erma Elenore(1916), Harry Edward (1918) and Lois Elaine(1937). She married Leslie C Neal on February 24, 1938 in Bay City Michigan. In the 1940 Census, Neal and Erma are living in rural Tuscola County, Michigan. Leslie and Erma had one daughter, Carol Eleanor Neal (1945-2010). Erma died on February 16, 2004 and is buried in Wisner Township Cemetery in Tuscola County, Michigan.

 

Tombstone Tuesday - February 9, 2016 - Whitfield Hainer

Reverand Whitfield John Hainer 

Whitfield John Hainer was the son of Reverend Charles Henry Hainer and Jane McMormick. He was born on February 26, 1868 in Canada.  Reverend Charles Hainer and his wife had 6 sons and one daughter.  All six sons became ministers and their daughter married a minister. Great story for a future blog.

He married Elizabeth Zeviah Maud Lick on December 12, 1900. They had three children who were born in  York, Canada. They were; Harold Carlyle(1901), Dorothy Marion(1904) and Murray Mitchell. Whitfield and his family, in 1911, moved to to Providence, Rhode Island. In the 1915 Census, Whitfield's occupation is listed as inventor of machinery.  In the 1920 Federal Census, his occupation was listed as an Investment and Securities Manager.  I thought that was odd in light of the fact that he was a minister but that may not have been a paying job.  Whitfield, his wife Maud and the children remained in the US and became naturalized citizens on June 27, 1923 in Vrginia.

 I am planning to look closer at Church records to see if I can find where and when he was ordained. I did not find this family in the 1930 Federal census. By the 1940 Census they are living in Florida. In Florida, he died on February 9, 1943. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Orange County, Florida.

Rest in Peace,

Jan

Tombstone Tuesday - Karin Henrikke Hansdattra - Febuary 2, 2016

 Karin Henrikke HansDatter

Karin Henrikke Hansdatter was born on November 19, 1820 in the Kjaeretangen (farm) on the island of Tjome in Norway.  Her parents were Hans Nielssen and Kristen Pernille Hansdattra from Ormelet (farm).  Hans Neilssen was born in Sweden.

 Karin Henrikke married Torger Jonasen on October 13, 1840 in Notteroy Church, Norway.  They had three children that I have been able to find; Hans Kristian(1844), Otto and Amelia(1852)(Will continue to search but it is difficult when all the records are in Norwegian.) Torger, Henrikke Karin and their son, Hans, are found in the 1875 Census in Maagero, Tjome, Norway. The farm name used for their children is Maagero so that tells me that they moved there before the children were born.  Karin Henrikke died on February 2, 1894 and is buried most likely in the cemetery that is seen in the photo of the Tjome Kirke (Church).

It is nearly impossible to get photos of grave stones from another country.  I plan to visit this cemetery and the church some day.  This is my family church where my Grandfather was baptized and all of his ancestors were, baptized, married and buried in this church.  Karin Henrikke Hansdatter was my Grandfather's Great Aunt, sister to his Grandmother, Olava Jorgensen.

Front entrance of the Tjome church

While doing my research I came across some picture that I thought I would share with you on this post.

Tjome, Norway

Rest in Peace, Karin,

Love Jan