Civil War Veteran’s Guardian Was Murdered by a Jealous Brother-in-Law - Edwin A Langley, Springfield Twp

            

                                   By Pamela Pattison Lash

 

This Civil War Soldier left his native residence of Keene, Coshocton Co, OH after his service in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry was over, taking his wife and small children to Springfield Twp, Williams Co, OH.  A blacksmith by trade he established a home here and later moved to Gorham Twp, Fulton Co, OH after the death of his wife.

 

Edwin Apuilla LANGLEY, the son of Moses B Langley and Martha B Childs, was born on 17 March 1843 in Keene, Coshocton Co, OH.  He is found in both the 1850 and 1860 Keene, Coshocton Co, OH Federal Census Records, living with his parents and later his widowed mother.  Moses B Langley was born in NH c1802 and died by 30 June 1859.  Dr. Lucius Howard was appointed by the local court as guardian for Moses’ minor heirs, Jonas C, Lila P, and Edwin A Langley.  Representing them and the interests of widow Martha Langley, Lucius petitioned the court to sell Moses’ lands of Lot 18 consisting of about 160 acres.  Three men were set to appraise the value of this property and Howard was then allowed to sell the property with the proviso of 1/3 payment in hand, 1/3 in one year, and the balance in two years with 6% interest.  Edwin and Lila appear to be twins of age 16 and Jonas was 20 years of age.  Older sister Mary Jane had married Simon Elliott on 13 Apr 1854 in Coshocton and lived in Richland Twp, Defiance Co, OH.  The youngest child, Rebecca Langley was born c1848 but she must have died before the father as she is not included in this probate.

 

On 28 January 1860 Dr. Lucius Howard, husband of the former Rosette Farwell, was murdered by his brother-in-law in the Farwell Butcher Shop.  Lewis Farwell believed that Lucius was overly friendly with Farwell’s wife and had words with the physician earlier in the evening.  Farwell then left home to conduct some business and Howard decided to stroll over to the butcher shop.  Farwell changed his mind and returned home to find Howard there and killed him with a piece of stove wood.  The butcher was convicted of second degree murder and spent a term at the Ohio Penitentiary.  He later moved to Illinois with his family.

 

By the 1860 Richland, Defiance Co, OH Federal Census records, Edwin’s sister Mary and husband Simon Elliott, and Langley brother Jonas were listed there. Edwin Langley joined the Co G unit of the 104^th OVI and later was transferred to the Co H unit of the 80^th OVI.  He mustered in on 29 Feb 1864 in Ohio and mustered out on 13 Aug 1865 at Little Rock Arkansas as a private.  He married Clarissa Leavitt in Coshocton Co, OH on 19 Oct 1865.  

 

Clarissa, born in Keene, OH on 13 Nov 1842, was the daughter of Gideon Leavitt and wife Mary Sickles.  Edwin, Clarissa, and children were found in the 1870 Springfield Twp, Williams Co, OH Federal Census; they were also enumerated there in 1880 and he was listed in the 1890 Veterans Schedule for the Stryker, OH area.  He applied for a CW Pension as an invalid on 23 Aug 1890. Clarissa died in Williams Co, OH on 24 Sept 1894 and was buried in the Boynton Cemetery of Springfield Twp.  Edwin and Clarissa were the parents of the following four children:

1.     Pren M (died as toddler, Williams Co, OH), male

2.     Zina E (1869 OH – 6 Dec 1951, Alvordton, Williams Co, OH)

3.     Milo Edwin (1871 Stryker, OH – Jan 1957, Williams Co, OH; m1 Eva Austin, 15 Oct 1893, Williams Co, OH; m2 Alta M Replogle)

4.     Edna Mary (14 Aug 1880, Williams Co, OH – pos 22 Jan 1948, Lucas Co, OH; m Robert Lee Johnson, 25 Mar 1913, Lucas Co, OH )

 

By 1900 Edwin was living in Gorham Twp, Fulton Co, OH as a landlord but ten years later he was residing in Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH as a widower living on his own income.  Edwin died on 28 Jan 1919 in West Unity, OH of heart disease and was buried beside Clarissa in Boynton Cemetery.

 

Reference List

1850 Keene, Coshocton Co, OH Federal Census – Edwin 7 OH with parents

1860 Keene, Coshocton Co, OH Federal Census – Edwin A 17 OH with mother

1870 Springfield Twp, Williams Co, OH Federal Census – Edwin 27 OH/Clarissa 29 OH

1880 Springfield Twp, Williams Co, OH Federal Census – Edwin 37 OH/Clarissa 38 OH

1890 Veterans Schedule, Springfield Twp, Williams Co, OH

1900 Gorham Twp, Fulton Co, OH Federal Census – Edwin 57 OH, widower, landlord

1910 Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH Federal Census – Edwin 67 OH, widower, own income

“Bryan Times” (Bryan, OH), 28 Jan 1957 – Milo Edwin Langley Obit

Civil War Pension – invalid, 23 Aug 1890

Coshocton Co, OH Marriages, 1859-1874, p396 – Edwin A Langley and Clarissa Leavitt

Coshocton Co, OH Probate Administrator of Estates, 1858-1866

“Leader Enterprise” (Montpelier, OH), 10 Dec 1951 – Zina E Langley Obit

Lupien, David, Boys in Blue, p6,7,18

Official Roster of Soldiers of State of Ohio

Ohio Grave Registrations for Ohio Soldiers

Springfield Twp, Williams Co, OH Cemeteries, p15

“The Progressive Age”, (Coshocton, OH), Wednesday, 3 Aug 1859, p3 c1- guardianship sale of real estate

US Civil War Draft Registration, 1863, Keene, Coshocton Co, OH - unmarried

US Civil War Soldiers M552 Roll 62

 

 

Montpelier Brothers in Civil War Service - the Lambersons

  Montpelier Brothers in Civil War Service – the Lambersons

By Pamela Pattison Lash

 

Our first Civil War veteran and resident of Montpelier, Williams County, Ohio descended from a Revolutionary War soldier.  He was one of three sons who served in the Union Army and took great pride in his Infantry service of 1 Year 4 Months and 26 Days.  The soldier entered the war as a private in Company K of the 38^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, mustering in on 16 February 1864 in Ohio and mustering out on the most common day for this unit, 12 July 1865 in Louisville, Tennessee.  He later applied for a CW pension as an invalid on 3 July 1876, suffering from injuries to his right shoulder, and upon his death due to paralysis of the heart, his widow was granted his pension on 14 June 1915.

 

William Whitfield LAMBERSON, the fourth child of nine and the third son of Edward S. Lamberson and wife Charity Ely, was born on 24 June 1843, probably in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.  Through his maternal lineage he traced back to his Revolutionary War veteran great-grandfather, Colonel George Ely of Hunterdon Co, NJ, DAR #A038190.  This lineage is also applicable for both Asher and James Lamberson.

 

William’s family can be found in the federal census records of 1840 Rush Twp, Northumberland Co, PA,   1850 Roaring Creek, Montour Co, PA, and 1860 Cardington, Morrow Co, OH. His father, Edward S Lamberson, was born on 9 July 1818 in Northumberland Co, PA.  He was the son of Edward Lamberson and Mary Ann Quick; both were buried in the Presbyterian Chapel Cemetery at Rushtown, PA.  Edward S married Charity Ely in Northumberland Co, PA  on 1 September 1836. Charity, the daughter of Caleb Ely and Jeanette Campbell, was born on 29 February 1820 in Northumberland Co, PA. Together they had the following children: 

(1) Samuel Ely (1837-1841),

(2) Asher Ely (10 Dec 1839 PA – 21 May 1925, Jackson Co, MI, m Margueritte Ely, 2 Mar 1864, Lenawee Co, MI, both buried in Pleasant Union View Cemetery, Fayette, Fulton Co, OH), second subject,

(3) Elizabeth Jane (1840 – 1841),

(4) William Whitfield, our main subject, 

(5) Harriet Ann (1843 – bef 1850), 

(6) James Wesley (27 Jan 1847 – 22 Nov 1923 Montpelier, OH, m Rebecca Ann Mehrling, 25 Dec 1867, Williams Co, OH, both buried in Riverside Cemetery, Montpelier), third subject

(7) Joanna “Annie” (6 Oct 1853 – 6 Feb 1940, m Thomas J Merritt, 17 Aug 1872, Hillsdale Co, MI), 

(8) Semira “Myra”(28 Mar 1855 – 31 Jan 1918, Jackson Co, MI, m Levi Merritt, 25 Mar 1875, Hillsdale Co, MI, 

(9) Maxwell Boggs (1857 – 15 June 1933, Elkhart Co, IN, m Caroline Malala Fetterhoff, 12 Aug 1883, Steuben Co, IN.  

 

Father Edward S Lamberson died on 19 Dec 1884 in Fayette, Fulton Co, OH and was buried there in the Pleasant View Union Cemetery.  Mother Charity Ely Lamberson passed away on 25 Apr 1886, also in Fayette, and was buried beside husband Edward.

 

William married Margaret Adelina Coleman on 3 December 1865 in Williams County, Ohio.  Margaret, the daughter of William Coleman and Maria Lutz/Lutes, was born in Blissfield, Coshocton Co, OH on 27 May 1851.  They are found in the following federal census records: 1870 Cardington, Morrow Co, OH, 1880 NW Twp, Williams Co, OH, 1890 Veterans Schedule for Superior Twp, Williams Co, OH, and the 1900 and 1910 Montpelier, Superior Twp, Williams Co, OH, where his occupation was driving a grocery wagon.  The couple had five children, 3 sons and 2 daughters.  The children are: 

(1) Lillian (16 Apr 1866, Coshocton Co, OH – 17 Apr 1866, Coshocton Co, OH), 

(2) Abraham Ellsworth (13 Feb 1868 Coshocton Co, OH – 8 July 1939, Toledo, Lucas Co, OH, m Nellie Tressler, 20 Sept 1892, Williams Co, OH), hardware merchant,

(3) George Johnson (18 Nov 1870, Morrow Co, OH – 23 June 1953 near Archbold, Fulton Co, OH, m1 Gertie J Kernys, 9 Mar 1893, Hillsdale Co, MI; m2 Elizabeth “Libbie” Huffman, 19 Nov 1899, Williams Co, OH), farmer and custodian of Park and Lincoln Schools in Bryan,

(4) Bertha Charity (3 Nov 1873 Coshocton Co, OH – 15 Oct 1940 Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Co, MI, m1 Fred Chapman, 1891; m2 John S Smith, 1895; m3 Eli Stockwell, 1910),  

(5) Harley Winfred (18 Oct 1883, Montpelier, Williams Co, OH – 17 June 1936 Toledo, Lucas Co, OH, m Mary Pacholski).

 

William died on 9 June 1915 in Montpelier and was buried in the Riverside Cemetery there.  Margaret used the services of lawyer EE Bechtol to file for his Civil War Pension as his widow for the cost of  $10.  Margaret continued to live in Montpelier until her death on 20 September 1900.  She too was buried in Riverside Cemetery.

 

Oldest brother Asher Ely Lamberson served in Co I of the 3^rd Ohio Infantry  as a private, mustering in May 1861. He was soon discharged due to lung trouble.  By the Civil War Draft Records for Clinton Twp, Fulton Co, OH Asher in 1863 was unmarried with a notation that he had consumption and had been twice refused to be in military service.  Asher is found in the 1890 Veteran’s Schedule as a resident of Gorham Twp, Fulton Co, OH with a muster in date of March 1861 but without a muster out date.  Asher and his wife Margaret Ely were parents of a son, Franklin Spencer, born 28 Oct 1880 in Fulton Co, OH; he married Celeste Crawford, 13 Apr 1903 in Fulton Co, OH.   Margaret was the daughter of William Ely and Sarah Jane Campbell.  She was born in Oh on 27 Oct 1844 and died in Fayette, Fulton Co, OH on 30 Nov 1911.  After his wife’s death Asher moved to Leoni, Jackson Co, MI, and lived with his son Frank until his death due to arteriosclerosis. He was listed as a retired barber on his Michigan death certificate.

 

Younger brother James Wesley Lamberson was also a CW veteran, serving in Co A 142^nd Indiana Infantry as a corporal from 20 Sept 1864 to 28 June 1865 when he mustered out at Kendallville, IN. He served 9 Months and 25 Days. He married Rebecca A Mehrling, the daughter of John Mehrling and Lydia Reber. Rebecca was born in Huron Co, OH on 1 July 1848 and died on 12 September 1924 in Montpelier. James and Rebecca were the parents of the following four children:

1. William E (31 Oct 1868, Williams Co, OH – 14 July 1948, Williams Co, OH; m Corda Huntington, 1891),

2. Ada Rose (6 Dec 1871, Morrow Co, OH – 18 June 1946; m William F Carl),

3. Alice M ( Nov 1873, NW Twp, Williams Co, OH – 31 Aug 1887, Montpelier, Williams Co, OH),

4. George Alfred (31 Jan 1876, Williams Co, OH – 12 Aug 1952, Williams Co, OH; m Sylvia Bible, 24 Dec 1899, Williams Co, OH),

James applied for a Civil War pension as an invalid on 10 Apr 1871; his widow Rebecca was granted his pension on 11 Feb 1924.

 

Reference List

1840 Rush Twp, Northumberland Co, PA Federal Census – Edward Lomason and family

1850 Roaring Cree, Montour Co, PA Federal Census – Asher 11 PA/William 6 PA/ James 3 PA with parents

1860 Cardington, Morrow Co, OH Federal Census – Asher 21 PA/William 17 PA /James 13 PA with parents

1870 Cardington, Morrow Co, OH Federal Census – William 26 PA/Margaret 20 OH

1870 Fayette, Gorham Twp, Fulton Co, OH Federal Census – Asher 33 PA/Margaret 27 OH

1880 Fayette, Gorham Twp, Fulton Co, OH Federal Census  – Asher 42 PA/Margaret 35 OH

1880 NW Twp, Williams Co, OH Federal Census – William 37 PA/Margaret 29 OH and James 33 PA/Rebecca A 32 OH

1890 Veterans Schedule, Gorham Twp, Fulton Co, OH Federal Census– Asher’s enlistment/discharge dates/company/rank

1890 Veterans Schedule, Superior Twp, Williams Co, OH Federal Census – William’s enlistment/discharge dates/company/rank

1900 Fayette, Gorham Twp, Fulton Co, OH Federal Census – Asher 63 PA/Margaret 55 OH

1900 Montpelier, Superior Twp, WilliamsCo, OH Federal Census – William 56 PA/Margaret 49 OH and James 53 PA/Rebecca 51 OH

1910 Superior Twp, Williams Co, OH Federal Census – William 66 PA/Margaret 58 OH and James 63 PA/Rebecca A 62 OH

1920 Leoni, Jackson Co, MI Federal Census – Asher 82 PA widower

1920 Superior Twp, Williams Co, OH Federal Census – JW 72 PA/Rebecca 71 OH

“Bryan Democrat” (Bryan, OH), 13 July 1939 p8c6 – E A Lamberson obit

“Bryan Times” (Bryan, OH), 23 June 1953 p1c1 – George Lamberson obit

Civil War Pensions

Civil War Soldiers 1861-1865 M552 Roll 61

Ely, Revell, and Stacey: A Historical Narrative p258, 319

Lupien, David, Boys in Blue, p16, 42

Official Roster of Soldiers of Ohio – muster in and ou dates, company, regiment, rank

Ohio Grave Registratiions for US Soldiers, 1804-1958 – William’s next of kin listed as Eli Stockwell

Superior Twp, Williams Co, OH Cemeteries p141

Williams Co, OH Marriages V3 p465– James Lamberson and Rebecca A Mehrling; V3 p500 William Lamberson and Margaret Lutz

Jackson Co, MI Death Record

Williams Co, OH Death Records

 

 

 

Benjamin Robert Willett, Old Settler of Williams County, OH

Sometimes when doing research and a write-up of a family, one can begin with the obituary of one or both of the husband/wife team and then go to other sources to add or adjust to what the obituary tells us.  Note that all information in an obit is not always accurate.  The data was usually supplied by a family member in the throes of grief or with little to no real knowledge so family lore is thrown into the mix.

 

The obituary for Benjamin Robert Willett gives a few details - Benjamin, born in Montgomery Co, MD, died on 18 February 1907 at his Bryan home at the corner of Beech and Bryan Streets.  He became an Ohio resident in 1834 when his parents left Maryland and settled in Ohio.  Benjamin was a partner in several business ventures when he came to West Unity in December of 1849 from Mansfield, Richland Co, OH.  He later moved in 1861 to his present home in Bryan.  He and his wife, Nancy L Wilhelm (m. 16 March 1856 in Williams Co, OH) did not have any children so they adopted the present surviving daughter, Mrs Ada T McElhenie.  “Uncle Ben” as he was known to many purchased a tombstone shop located on the west side of the square.  Later he was part owner of a dry goods store on the east side of the square…..The Bryan Democrat (Bryan, OH), Thursday, 19 February 1907, p1 c4-5 with picture.

 

Another smaller obit appeared in The Defiance Express (Defiance, OH), Friday, 20 February 1907 p8 c1 – Benjamin Willett recently died at his home in Bryan at the age of 79.  He was a Williams County, Ohio native for 58 years.

 

The History of Williams County, Ohio by Weston Goodspeed, 1882 p600-601 tells of the senior Willetts  coming from Maryland to Ohio. The parents of Benjamin are buried in Fountain Grove Cemetery, Bryan, OH, where Benjamin JR and his wife were buried.  Benjamin Willett, SR (25 July 1786 – 4 August 1862) and wife Anna Howes Willett (1793 – 1863) were the parents of the following children: Horatio, Hamilton, Catherine, Meredith, Sarah, Otha, Elizabeth, our subject Benjamin, Joseph, and Oliver.  The father, Benjamin SR has a will found in Will Volume 1 p117, 18 August 1862 case number 699.  

 

Benjamin JR. was listed in the following federal census records:

1850 Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH – Benjamin 22 MD farming and mill maker, living with brother Horatio

1860 Bryan, Pulaski Twp, Williams Co, OH – now married Benjamin R 32 MD no occupation and Nancy L 25 PA

 

He married Nancy L Wilhelm, who was born on 11 November 1833 in Canton, Stark Co, OH, the daughter of John and Charlotte Kreisler/Crider Wilhelm of Franklin Co, PA.  Nancy’s siblings were Mariah, Susannah, John, Fanny, Henry, Rebecca, and Catherine, and most of them were enumerated in the 1850 Canton, Stark Co, OH Federal Census. Note that Benjamin’s obit says Nancy was born in OH but most of the census records list her as Pennsylvania native. The earliest census record for Wilhelm is 1840 in Plain Twp, Stark Co, OH. Nancy’s mother died in Canton, Stark Co, OH on 16 February 1879, but her father died in Bryan, OH on 28 March 1887; both Wilhelms are buried in the Rowland Cemetery in Stark Co, OH

 

According to the 1863 Civil War Draft Registration Benjamin of Bryan was a marble dealer.  He did not serve in the war.

 

1870 Bryan, Pulaski Twp, Williams Co, OH – BR 41 MD marble cutter and Nancy 35 PA

1880 same location – BR 52 MD merchant, Nancy 45 PA, and Ida 5 OH

1900 same location listed as 14 Lynn St – Benjamin 72 MD (Jan 1828), Nancy 66 (Nov 1833), mar 39Y, no children

 

Sometime between 1907 when Benjamin died and 1914 Nancy moved to Toledo, Lucas Co, OH as his widow according to the Toledo City Directory. By 1920 she was living with Ada and Thomas J  McElhennie (married on 9 March 1898 in Williams Co, OH), still in Toledo until her death on 10 November 1924.  The Bryan Press (Bryan, OH), 13 November 1924 p5 c3 contains her obituary. She was laid to rest in Fountain Grove Cemetery, next to husband Benjamin Willett.

 

In his Bryan Press (Bryan, OH), 21 February 1907 p4 c3 – additional information:

1.     He died of kidney and heart problems

2.     He was a man of pronounced opinions, often gruff, but a kind heart.

3.     He retired in 1875.

4.     They were married in West Unity, OH.