Edon Man Was A Veteran of Both the Mexican-American War and the Civil War

By Pamela Pattison Lash

Robert Harper Chisolm (7 Mar 1822, Huntingdon Co, PA – 23 Apr 1907, Edon, Florence Twp, Williams Co, OH; buried in Edon Cem; possibly s/o Alexander Chisholm and Sarah Warntz Varnes)

Rachel A. Jewell (Dec 1832 New Lisbon, Columbiana Co, OH – 3 July 1906 Edon, Florence Twp, Williams Co, OH; buried in Edon Cem; possibly d/o George Jewell and Delila McKee)

His parents: Alexander Chisholm (Dec 1798 PA – 15 Aug 1875 Cumberland Co, PA; buried in Petersburg Cem; s/o John Chisholm 14 May 1763, Inverness, Scotland – 4 Aug 1842, Duncannon, PA and Margaret McBride 1788 – 28 Feb 1838 Duncannon, PA )

Sarah Warntz Varnes/Varns (1804 Watts, Perry Co, PA-1862); mar 26 June 1819 Cumberland Co, PA; possibly d/o Valentine Werntz, making her a widow perhaps of ** Varns

Her parents: George Jewell (Sept 1810 OH –24 Sept 1900 South Whitley, IN) – 1870/1880/1900 St Joseph

Delila Mattie McKee (1814 Columbiana Co, OH – 1880 or 1891 pos Williams Co, OH); mar 17 Mar 1832, Knox Twp, Columbiana Co, OH by John Wallace, JP; pos dau/o Daniel McKee

Robert Chisholm married Rachel A Jewell on 17 July 1849, Columbiana Co, OH

From National Archives Military Service Record: Mexican-American War, Jan 1847-June 1849 – grey eyes, brown hair, fair complexion, 5’4”, PA, Hintagella ? , cabinet maker, 23 Apr 1847 Harrisburg to 31 July 1848; expires of service; at Jefferson Barracks

CW Vet Co B 104^th OVI – 1862 to 1864: Enlisted in Company B, Ohio 104th Infantry Regiment on 30 Aug 1862. Promoted to Full Sergeant. Promoted to Full Private on 01 Jun 1864. Mustered out on 29 May 1865 at Louisville, KY.

The couple had 9 children (I can only find 8):

1. Frances Ann (15 Mar 1850 Knox Twp, Columbiana Co, OH-14 Feb 1934 Kansas City, Jackson Co, MO; mar Hugh Lees, 4 July 1872, Williams Co, OH)

2. Loranse Ann (25 December 1851 Georgetown, Columbiana Co, OH – 1925; mar Edwin Wallace Elya)

3. Martha Jane (6 January 1854 Columbiana Co, OH-aft 1875; mar George Phelps, 14 Dec 1875, Defiance Co, OH)

4. Almira/Almyra (3 March 1856 Columbiana Co, OH –aft 1880

5. George Alex (27 Sept 1859 Columbiana Co, OH – aft 1880

6. Edward Stanton (17 June 1862, Limaville, OH – 6 Oct 1922 Cleveland, OH; buried in Edon Cem)

7. Carrie Belle (11 Mar 1870 Edon, Williams Co, OH – aft 1920 /bef 1930 Redding, Clare Co, MI ; mar Charles Weston Brandeberry c 1889)

8. Daisy E (10 Feb 1874 Edon, Williams Co, OH – aft 1910 pos Ft Wayne, Allen Co, IN; mar John Spake, 16 Mar 1896 Williams Co, OH)

1850 Knox, Columbiana, Ohio; Roll: M432_669; Page: 297B; Image: 596.

h/h 349/349 Chisholm, Robert 27 PA laborer

Rachel A 17 OH

Frances (f) 3M OH

1860 Deerfield, Portage, Ohio; Roll: M653_1025; Page: 198; Image: 401; Family History Library Film: 805025.

h/h 138/132 Cheshelm, Robt 37 PA carpenter

Rachel 27 OH

Frances 10 OH

Lorenzo 8 OH (m)

Martha 6 OH

Almira 4 OH

George 1 OH

Ohio Roster of Soldiers of State of Ohio, CW Record: Robert H Chisholm, age 40 – enlisted 18 July 1862 as corporal;

Enlisted in Company B, Ohio 104th Infantry Regiment on 30 Aug 1862.

Promoted to Full Sergeant.

Promoted to Full Private on 01 Jun 1864.

Mustered out on 29 May 1865 at Louisville, KY.

1870 Florence, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M593_1282; Page: 70B; Image: 144; Family History Library Film: 552781

h/h /161 Chesholm, Robert 50 PA (can’t read occup)

Rachel 38 OH

Frances 20 OH

Loranso 18 OH (f)

Martha 16 OH

Almira 14 OH

George 11 OH

Edwin 8 OH

Carrie 6M OH

Platt, Margries 3 OH (m)

1880 Edon, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1077; Family History Film: 1255077; Page: 557B; Enumeration District: 008; Image: 0749.

h/h 87/93 Chesholm, RW 57 carpenter PA-PA-PA

Rachael wife 47 OH-VA-OH

Edward son 17 laborer OH-PA-OH

Carrie dau 10 OH-PA-OH

Daisy dau 6 OH-PA-OH

1890 Veterans Schedule - Florence, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 61; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 205.

Robert H Chisholm CW 1862-1864 Co B OH 104^th Reg; served 2Y 10M 11D

1900 Florence, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T623; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 105.

h/h 17/17 Chisholm, Robert 78 (Mar 1822) mar 50Ypainter PA-PA-PA

Rachel E wife 67 (Dec 1832) 9/8 ch OH-OH-OH

Edward S son 37 (June 1862) single, plasterer OH-PA-OH

Sources:

Williams County, Ohio Cemeteries – Florence Twp – Edon Cem p90

Bryan Democrat (Bryan, OH), 3 May 1907, p1c4 – obit of Robert H Chisholm:

War Veteran Dead at Edon

Robert Chisholm served in two wars and wanted to serve in the third

Robert H Chisholm a veteran of the Mexican and Civil Wars died at his home in Edon, Tuesday following a short illness.  He served as a regular in the army during the Mexican War, learning while in Mexico to speak Spanish, and the Mexican language.  He also could speak German.  He was married to Rachel Jewell 17 July 1849.  Nine children were born to this union.  When the call to arms was given in 1862 he left his wife and little children and enlisted 18 July 1862 for three years in the CW where he held office of orderly sergeant in Co B of 104^th OVI until his discharge at the close of the war at Louisville, KY, 29 May 1865.  He was a miller, a carpenter, a painter, and a man of genius, but above all things else a man full of patriotism and love for his country was the uppermost thought of his mind and during the late war with Spain would gladly have gone into service again, but his age prevented him.  Robert Chisholm was born 7 Mar 1822 in Huntington Co, PA, being of Scotch descent, bound out as a boy by his father to learn the carpenter trade until 21 years of age.

He died 23 Apr 1907 aged 85Y 1M 16D still having a bright mind and able to recall events of his past war record.  Funeral held at Christian Church conducted by Elder Winbigler and assisted by Rev Hodge.  Burial with military honors by the old soldiers in Edon Cem.

Bryan Democrat (Bryan, OH), 13 July 1906, p7 c1 – obit of Mrs RH Chisholm: On Tuesday afternoon July 3 Mrs RH Chisholm died at her home in Edon.  She had been an invalid for years.  Her Christian life won her many friends and she will be greatly missed.  Funeral services were held at the Christian church Thursday afternoon.  Interment at Edon Cem.

Columbiana Co, OH Marriages, CW Bell, p50

Williams Co, OH Deaths – V3 p23 both Rachel Chesholm and Robert H Chisholm

Williams Co, OH Probate - #7022 – Rachel A Chisholm – 23 Feb 1922 and #7023 – Robert H Chisholm – 23 Feb 1922

Mary E. Maze Yeagley v Charles Henry Yeagley (Journal 8 p534 - 22 May 1876; Roll 28 case number 53 - May 1876)

The couple was married in Williams Center, Center Twp, Wms Co, OH on 14 Mar 1860 (Marriage V3 p96).  Mary, born on 22 Jan 1837 in Crawford Co, OH, was the daughter of Robert and Sarah Delano Mitchell Maze, who lived in Bridgewater Twp.  Charles Henry Yeagley was born in Feb 1839, also a possible Crawford County native. 

Mary charged her husband with adultery; the third party was Martha J. Chisholm.  This happened on 15 Nov 1875 near Edon in a certain buggy and again on 17 Nov 1875. She also stated that Charles was violent and struck her on 17 Oct 1875.  Charles was a habitual drunk for two years or more.  Mary said she owned Lot 96 in Edgerton and wanted a reasonable alimony.  The couple had two sons, James Ashley (15) who temporarily resided with William Britton, and Kyle Clifton (8).  A divorce was granted in May 1876.

It Started With Fern Beatrice Acker

It Started With Fern Beatrice Acker

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 31 Dec 2010)

From the Abstracts of West Unity Reporter Obituaries

(This collection of obituaries is gleaned from a book found in the Williams County Public Library in Bryan, Ohio.  Some of the material is not dated.  It would appear that this was a random collection and does not contain all obituaries from this newspaper.  Researchers are encouraged to check this original source for further data. Females are cross-filed by maiden and married names.)

http://www.wcgs-ogs.com/w__unity_reporter_obits.htm

p131-132 – Fern Beatrice Acker

d/o Douglass & Anna Acker

b West Unity 20 Sept 1899

d 24 Apr 1900 @7M 4D

rel of M/M HC Jones

This all started with Fern, a little girl who died in West Unity, Williams Co, OH on 24 April 1900; Fern was only 7 months and 4 days old.  Her obituary appeared in the above-mentioned collection of news obits.  I had decided some time ago to follow up several of the obits with a more detailed history of the people mentioned.  I planned to begin with Fern, but what I did not realize was the interesting story I would uncover about her family.

Fern Beatrice Acker, the daughter of Douglas Preston Acker and Anna Belle Jones, was born in West Unity on 20 Sept 1899. I started with three pieces of information – a birth record (Williams Co, OH Births V3 p3), a death record (Williams Co, OH Deaths V3 p2), and the obituary.  Census data took me first to her paternal side as follows:

1860 Morenci, Lenawee, Michigan; Roll: M653_551; Page: 739; Image: 739; Family History Library Film: 803551.

h/h 2106/2121 Acker, Levi 28 NY clerk

Sarah 26 OH

Eliza 6 MI

1870 Jackson Ward 2, Jackson, Michigan; Roll: M593_678; Page: 186B; Image: 377; Family History Library Film: 552177

h/h 375/351 Acker, Levi 39 NY saloon keeper, worth 5,000 (?)

Sarah 36 OH

Eliza 16 MI

Preston 7 MI

Mortimer 8/12 Oct MI

Van Riper, Minerva 18 MI domestic servant

1880 Morenci, Lenawee, Michigan; Roll: 591; Family History Film: 1254591; Page: 447D; Enumeration District: 169; Image: 0576

h/h 190/198 Acker, Levi 51 laborer NY-PA-PA

Sarah wife 46 OH-NY-NY

Douglas P son 16 MI-NY-OH laborer

Mortimer L son 10 MI-NY-OH

Warren B son 5 MI-NY-OH

McCaskey, Lydia servant/housekeeper 21 OH-OH-OH

1883 Jackson, Jackson Co, MI City Directory, p46

Douglas P. Acker, clerk for JH King, boards at Pond Block (other Ackers mentioned – Elizabeth, Frederick l)

15 Aug 1884, Jonesville, Hillsdale Co, OH; marriage of Douglas Acker born 1863 Morenci, Lenawee Co, MI to Minnie Phetterplace of Palmyra, MI; he was a resident of Jackson, MI and she of Fayette, Fulton Co, OH; Douglas, a teamster, was 21 and she was 18.  Mary E. “Minnie” Phetterplace Acker, the daughter of James and Ann Phetterplace, married Lincoln Taylor, 22 Feb 1888 in Fulton Co, OH.  This is the first divorce for Douglas Acker.

2 Jan 1888, Kalamazoo Co, MI; marriage of Douglas P. Acker son of Levi Acker and Sarah Clark; he born 1864 MI to Olive B. Drunis born 1870 OH, daughter of William O Drunis and Viola Meese; he was 24 and she was 18; he was previously married and a resident of Kalamazoo. (Olive and her parents have disappeared; I wonder if the last name is something else.)

So to recap my notes, it appears that Douglas Preston Acker, born 1863 in Morenci. Lenawee Co, MI, was the son of Levi Acker and Sarah Clark.  Levi may be the son of George Acker and Lydia Holben who lived in Seneca Co, NY; this family later moved to Fulton Co, OH and Lenawee Co, MI.  Internet sources say that Levi (Sept 1831 NY – aft 1900) and Sarah (1834 OH –bet 1880-1883) had the following children:

1.  Lida Marium (13 Mar 1854, Morenci, Lenawee Co, MI – 3 Mar 1930, Chelsea, Washtenaw Co, MI) mar Thomas Kingman Rockwell, 17 Oct 1875

2.  Douglas Preston (July 1863, Lenawee Co, MI – aft 1930)

3.  Mortimer Lee (18 Nov 1869, Jackson Co, MI – 29 Feb 1932, Akron, Summit Co, OH; mar 1 – Lovina Havens, 17 Oct 1895, Jackson Co, MI; mar 2 – Emma Benze, 7 Sept 1902, Lenawee Co, MI; mar 3 – Nellie M. Fletcher Smith, 1 Dec 1919, Jackson Co, MI

4.  Warren B (Jan 1875, MI – aft 1910); mar 1 Adah A. Beatty, 24 Oct 1897, MI; mar 2 – Olive Bauman, c1905

Levi Acker married Emma L. Case in Hillsdale Co, MI on 27 Nov 1883; both parties were residents of Morenci, MI; Levi, a businessman, was 52 and Emily was 37; this is confirmed by the following census:

1900 Seneca, Lenawee, Michigan; Roll: T623_725; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 61.

h/h 337/341 Acker, Levi (Sept 1831) 68 NY-PA-PA mar 15Y (1885) retired farmer

Emely L wife (Feb 1846) 54 OH-NY-NY 2/2 ch

Next we’ll take a look at Fern’s maternal line, the Jones family, which is evidenced by the following data and census records:

Henry C. Jones  (4 Feb 1834, OH - 26 Sept 1908 West Unity, Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH, Death V3 p68); plasterer, married Marium E. Spencer, 7 Apr 1871, Williams Co, OH (V4 p166); CW Vet; bur Floral Grove Cem, West Unity; Marium is found in the 1870 household of Allen Spencer; this may be her father, but that is not determined to-date.  She had daughter Cora who is identified as “Cora Spencer”

1. Cora Spencer (4 Feb 1868, West Unity, Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH – 4 Sept 1947, Bryan, Pulaski Twp, Williams Co, OH); mar William Ehrat (1865-Jan 1942); both bur Floral Grove Cem, West Unity
2.  Nellie D. (10 Nov 1872, Brady Twp - Birth V1 p35) to (10 Aug 1874, Brady Twp - Death V 1 p21); death due to cholera

2.  Anna Belle Jones (Oct 1875, Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH – bet 1920 and 1930, prob Ingham Co, MI)

1860  Millcreek, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M653_1052; Page: 135; Image: 275; Family History Library Film: 805052.

h/h 177/169 Spencer, Allen 37 OH farmer

Jane 33 OH

Mary Ann 12 OH

Thomas 10 OH

James 5 OH

Sarah 1 OH

1870 West Unity, Brady Twp, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M593_1282; Page: 20A; Image: 43; Family History Library Film: 552781

h/h 71/71 Spencer, Allen 49 OH

Jane 42 OH

Mariam 24 OH

Ida 6 OH

Cora 2 OH

(An essential question – Is Marium Spencer the daughter of Allen and Jane Spencer, their daughter-in-law, or some other relative?  It appears to me that Marium is the daughter of Allen H and Jane Rockwell Spencer.  Now from the 1860 census above, it looks like Ida and Cora are Marium's daughters, but in the 1880 enumeration for Allen and Jane, they have Ida 16 OH listed as their daughter.  More research needs to be done!)  Ida Spencer married James Oliver Swisher on 25 Oct 1883 in Williams Co, OH, Marriage V5 #401.

Weston Goodspeed’s History of Williams County, Ohio, 1882, p688, states that “Allen Abner Spencer married 12 Oct 1843, (Williams Co, OH Marriages V1 p71) Jane Rockwell, daughter of Justice K. and Miriam Rockwell; Jane was born in Richland Co, OH on 7 Aug 1827.  The couple had seven children.  In 1839 Allen assisted in the survey of the first east-west road laid out through Williams County.”

According to Presidents, Soldiers, and Statesmen, 1892, p633, Allen Spencer was born on 8 June 1822 in Harrison Co, OH, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Turner Spencer.  He was a CW vet of Co E 68^th OVI.  His father was also a CW Vet and his wife’s father (not named) was a veteran of the War of 1812.  Comrade Spencer is totally disabled and draws a pension as of 1892.

Allen H. Spencer died on 13 Nov 1893 and was buried in Floral Grove Cem, West Unity, OH; his wife Jane Rockwell Spencer died on 5 July 1898 and was buried beside her husband; he was 71Y 3M 5D and she was 70Y 10M 28D.  These appear to be the great-grandparents of Fern Beatrice Acker.

1880 Brady, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1077; Family History Film: 1255077; Page: 515C; Enumeration District: 5; Image: 0664

h/h 155/168 Jones, Henry C 46 OH-VA-VA mason

Marianne 32 wife OH-OH-OH

Cora 12 dau OH-OH-OH

Anna Bell 4 dau OH-OH-OH

27 Sept 1895 (no newspaper source cited – Internet posting)

H. C. Jones of Williams County, Ohio, a former resident of Brook, and an uncle of our townsman M. A. (Morris A.) Jones is here renewing old acquaintances.

1900 West Unity, Brady, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T623_1332; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 100

h/h 235/242 Jones, Henry C  (66) Feb 1834 OH-VA-VA plaster

Marium E. (53) wife Jan 1847 OH-OH-OH mar 29Y 3/2 children

Spencer, Ida niece (13) May 1887 Wyoming – OH- Ireland

Henry C. Jones, probably son of Moses and Anna Harrell Jones of Ross Co, OH, has a obit in The Bryan Democrat, 29 Sept 1908 p1 and 2 Oct 1908 p2.

His widow, Marium, can be found in the following two federal census records:

1910 Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH, p9B

h/h 268/273 living on Defiance St, West Unity - Jones, Maryium 63 OH-OH-OH widow 3/2 ch

1920 Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH p9A

h/h 281/302 living on Defiance St, West Unity - Jones, Marium E 72 OH-OH-OH

Marium Spencer Jones does not appear in the 1930 federal census; I have not found any obituary for her to-date.

So next one finds the parents of little Fern B. Acker.

Anna Belle Jones married Douglas Preston Acker on 16 July 1896 in Williams Co, OH (Marriage V7 #178).  They were enumerated in the following census records:

1900 West Unity, Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH, Roll: T623_1332; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 100

h/h 149/154 Acker, Douglas P (36)July 1863  MI-NY-OH carpenter, rents house

Anna  (24) wife Oct 1875, OH-OH-OH 1/0 ch mar c1897

(both can read and write)

1910 Lansing Ward 1, Ingham, Michigan; Roll: T624_651; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 59; Image: 186

911 North Larch Street

h/h 48/52  Acker, Douglas B 46 mar 13Y MI-MI-MI body maker in auto shop, rents house

Anna  34 OH-OH-OH wife both mar 1x no children

(Obviously this is wrong due to Fern Beatrice’s birth and death records and her obituary.  This census record also is faulty on the number of Douglas' marriages, as Anna was his third wife.)

On 30 July 1919 in Jackson Co, MI, Anna Jones Acker married Ervin S. Bixler, 

On 1 Dec 1919, Douglas Acker stood in as a witness for his brother, Mortimer’s third marriage; Douglas’ residence was Jackson, Jackson Co, MI.

It would appear that Douglas and Anna divorced sometime between the enumeration of the 1910 federal census and Anna’s second marriage on 30 July 1919.  The next two available census records show Douglas as being divorced.

1920 Leoni, Jackson, Michigan; Roll: T625_774; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 33; Image: 792

h/h 87/86 Acker, Dangular bro-in-law 56 D or S (D is bigger than surrounding S) MI-NY-OH clerk Ruel Hotel Jason (?), wage earner living with

Rockwell, Thomas 67 MI-NY-CT farm gardener

Lydia wife 65 MI-NY-OH and son Howard 35, his wife Sophia (Lumelius) 29, and their children – William, Catharine, Charles, Edward

(Note Lydia Rockwell is the sister of Douglas Acker.)

1930 Jackson, Jackson, Michigan; Roll: 996; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 20; Image: 28.0

21 West Washington Ave

h/h 236/435 Acker, Douglas 47 MI-NY-NY divorced, cutter in corset factory, lodger w/Albert C. Brown 54 widower

The following data shows Anna as the wife of Ervin Bixler and her absence in 1930 federal census (presumed death):

1920 Lansing, Ingham Co, MI, p14B

h/h 286/286 Bixler, Ervin 42 IN-IN-IN machinist in auto factory

Anna 41 OH-OH-OH wife

Arthur 11 MI-IN-OH son

Keim, Adolph 34 lodger

Ervin S. Bixler (25 Oct 1877, Marshall Co, IN – aft 1930) was the son of John and Mary Yockman Bixler.  He was first married to Rose E. Deisch, 4 Feb 1915.  She was the mother of Arthur Bixler (1920 Lansing, Ingham Co, MI federal census referenced above).

1922 Lansing City Directory: Bixler Irvin S (Anna), wks Pruddens, h 719 Porte

1930 Lansing, Ingham Co, MI p5B

Bixler, Ervin 51 IN-OH-OH factory laborer, widower

Time for Speculation

Douglas Acker was married three times with no known children, aside from Fern Beatrice.  Anna Jones Acker Bixler was married twice with no known children besides Fern.  I wonder if this (the lack of other children and/or the grief of losing Fern) was the key to the couple’s divorce.  If any one has more data on this family, please email me.