EJ Mendenhall Update

On May 26, 2014, I wrote a blog post- my 3rd week of 52 Ancestors- on EJ Mendenhall- my 6th Cousin, 5x Removed. You can read it Here.

After researching EJ, I was excited to discover that he died and was buried in Prescott, Arizona. This was cool because, even though I live in Fort Collins, Colorado now, I grew up in Prescott. 

This last week, my family and I vacation to Arizona, our first time there in two years. While we were there, we stayed in Prescott, but visited many places- Jerome, Grand Canyon, Florence, Phoenix, and of course- the cemetery where EJ was buried- Arizona Pioneers' Home Cemetery. 

I was so excited to visit EJ's resting place, but after finding it, I was disappointed to find that he had no gravemarker. I took a couple of pictures: 

There were two separate place of burial- on the side of the mountain were the older ones where EJ was buried (a lot with no gravestones, no flowers, ground VERY unkempt) and then one that was for newer burials (VERY nice looking). I understand that EJ was probably very poor when he died and both his death certificate and the Pioneers' Home said he had no family- so that's probably why he had no gravestone, but just the fact that the grounds are so poorly maintained...makes me sad.

This is the view from the top of the cemetery- very pretty :) 

EJ Mendenhall- Row K, Grave 11

This is my son in the middle of the cemetery- browsing while my husband and I were looking for EJ's gravesite.

This is where he was buried- a bunch of rocks are in the spot of a gravestone. 

In Memory of Robert C. "Bob" Jeckering

This past Wednesday, my 1st Cousin, 2x Removed passed away- 

Robert Cletus "Bob" Jeckering (1934-2015)

I first discovered Robert when I was researching my dad and grandfather's high school- Chaminade Catholic High School in Dayton, Ohio. On the school's website, you can browse through the past yearbooks so I looked up all the names in my family that I could find and Robert was one of them. I blogged about it back in August 2014: 
you can read that blog post Here.

Bob graduated from Chaminade in 1952 at the age of 18. He married and they had 6 children. 


Bobs funeral was held this last Saturday, September 26 with a burial at Calvary Cemetery- among many other family members of mine. 

Obituary: 

Obiturary from Newcomer Funeral Home

In Memory of 

Robert C. "Bob" Jeckering

1934-2015

Robert C. Jeckering, age 81, of Dayton, passed away on Wednesday, Septermber 23, 2015.

Bob worked at White Villa for 41 years. He was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus.

Bob was preceded in death by his daughter, Brenda Jeckering.

He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Shirley Jeckering; children, Terry (Charlie Kucharski), Paul (Lynda) Jeckering, Barbara Jeckering and Dan (Misty) Jeckering; grandchildren, Catherine, Stephen, Quinn, Olivia, and Zach; brother, Tom (Ginny) Jeckering; and sister, Marilyn Monnin.

The family will receive friends on Friday, September 25, 2015 from 6-8pm at Newcomer Funeral Home North Chapel (4104 Needmore Rd, Dayton, OH 45424). A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2015 at 10am at St. Henry's Catholic Church (6696 N. Springboro Pike, Dayton, OH 45449). Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund (http://app/etapestry.com/hosted/CureAlzFund/OnlineDonation/html).

Today in My Family History- Week 39

Week of September 21- 27

A Very Happy Birthday to: 

~My Grand Uncle- a "Living Jeckering"-- September 22-- 89 Years Old

In Loving Memory of: 

~Robert Eugene Mendenhall (1919-1993)-- 74 Years Old

My Grand Uncle

He Died on September 21, 1993.

~Clara M. Jeckering (1863-1957)-- 93 Years Old

My 2nd Great Grand Aunt

She was BORN on September 22, 1863.

--- Read more about her Here

~Clarinda Jane Robinson (1835-1909)-- 74 Years Old

My 3rd Great Grandmother

She DIED on September 25, 1909.

~Agnes Cecila Brinkman (1914-2011)-- 96 Years Old

My 2nd Cousin, 2x Removed

She was BORN on September 25, 1914.

~Elizabeth Jeckering (1861-1957)-- 95 Years Old

My 2nd Great Grand Aunt

She was BORN on September 26, 1861.

---Read more about her Here

A Million Mendenhall's: #52 & #53

Mendenhall #52: Achsah Mendenhall (1817-1870)

                  Achsah Stout

Birth: 13 Jan 1817 in Guilford County, North Carolina

Death: 1870 in North Carolina

Relation to Me: My 2nd Cousin, 7x Removed

Parents: Seth Mendenhall (1771-1834) &

          Clarissa Weeks (1765-1834)

Siblings:

1.William (1798-1829)

2. Ruddick (1800-1842)

3. Nancy (1802-?)

4. Asahel (1805-1854)

5. Jabez H. (1805-1854)

6. Mary (1808-1872)

7. Sally (1811-1817)

8. Olive (1814-1895)

Marriage: 24 Feb 1843 in Davidson County, North Carolina

Achsah married John Stout (b. 1812)-- son of Jacob Stout & Sarah Long. 

Achsah and John had at least 1 son: 

1. Isaac Newton Stout (1845-1906)

Residence(s) & Occupation(s):

~1817 (13 Jan) (Birth): Springfield, Guilford, NC

Springfield Monthly Meeting- Quaker Meeting Records- Birth

~1843 (24 Feb) (age 26): Davidson County, North Carolina

Marriage Bond

~1850 (age 33): Northern Division, Davidson, NC

Living with Son and Helton Family

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Mendenhall #53: Achsah Mendenhall (1827-1850)

Birth: 16 Jun 1827 in Springfield, NC

Death: after 1850 in North Carolina

Relation to Me: My 3rd Cousin, 6x Removed

Parents: Ruddick Mendenhall (1800-1842) &

         Elizabeth Pidgeon (1796-?)

Siblings:

1.Charles Henry (1820-1878)

2. Jabez Milton (1823-1868)

3. Seth (1825-1826)

4. Semira (1833-1834)

5. Ellen (1834-?)

6. Alpheus Leonidus (1836-1910)

Marriage: No known marriage.

Residence(s) & Occupation(s):

~1827 (16 Jun) (Birth): Springfield, North Carolina

Springfield Monthly Meeting- Quaker Meeting Records- Birth

~1850 (23 Jul) (age 23): Guilford County, North Carolina

 Living with Mother and Siblings.

A Million Mendenhall's: #50 & #51

Mendenhall #50: Absolom Alvers Mendenhall (1877-1937)

Birth: 03 May 1877 in Patterson, Darke, Ohio

Death: 06 Jul 1937 in Muncie, Delaware, Indiana

Relation to Me: My 2nd Cousin, 5x Removed

Parents: Charles E. Mendenhall (1838-1882) &

          Rebecca Blotner (1838-1913)

Siblings: (Absolom's father Charles married twice)

1. Rufus M. (1874-1874)

2. Rhoda C. (1875-1904)

3. William (1879-1881)

Half-Siblings:

1. Nancy Olive (1867-1923)

2. Walter John (1868-1923)

3. Mary E. (b. 1870)

Marriage: 06 Jul 1898 in Delaware County, Indiana

Absolom married Ann Louisa "Lulu" VanNatter (1881-1956)- daughter of Samuel VanNatter & Margarite E. Roberts.

Absolom and Lulu had 8 children:

1. Ross T. (1901-1979)

2. Cleo R. (1903-1959)

3. Pauline May (1905-1956)

4. Charles Earl (1907-1991)

5. Infant Daughter (1910-1910)

6. Geraldine Fay (1911-2000)

7. Madeline Faine (1914-1914)

8. Forest Glen (1920-1920)

Residence(s) & Occupation(s):

~1877 (13 May) (Birth): Darke County, Ohio

Ohio, Birth and Christenings Index

~1880 (12 Jun) (age 3): Patterson, Darke, Ohio

Son; Living with Parents and Siblings

~1899 (age 22): Muncie, Delaware, Indiana

13th St. Elliott, works at Ball Bros (U.S. Directory)

~1900 (29 Jun) (age 23): Center, Delaware, Indiana

Laborer @ Glass Factory; Living with Wife.

~1910 (29 Apr) (age 32): Center, Delaware, Indiana

Laborer @ Mill; Living with Wife and 4 Children.

~1918 (12 Sep) (age 41): Delaware County, Indiana

WWI Registration: 

Description: Tall, Medium Build, Blue Eyes, Brown Hair

Occupation: Fruit Jar Inspector @ Ball Brothers: Factory #2

~1920 (13 Jan) (age 42): Center, Delaware, Indiana

Inspector @ Ball Brothers; Living on E. 16th St.; Living with Wife, 5 Children and 2 Boarders.

~1930 (14 Apr) (age 52): Center, Delaware, Indiana

Laborer @ Glass Factory; Living with Wife & 4 Children and Brother-in-law

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mendenhall #51: Absolom Jay Mendenhall (1836-1845)

Birth: 21 Oct 1836 in Cambridge, Ohio

Death: 11 Jun 1845 Morgan County, Ohio

Relation to Me: (Ancestry.com made it complicated...I'm not sure why)

My 2nd Cousin, 1x Removed of husband of sister-in-law of 2nd great grand aunt.

Parents: Benjamin Mendenhall (1811-1891) &

         Charlotte Faires (1806-1893)

Siblings:

1.Thomas William (1834-1917)

2. Daniel K. (1838-1897)

3. John Alexander (1839-1915)

4. Isaac James (1841-1897)

5. Elizabeth Jane (1845-1932)

Marriage: Died Young

A Million Mendenhall's: #48 & #49

Mendenhall #48: Absolom Mendenhall (1780-1848)

Birth: 18 Mar 1780 in Burke County, North Carolina

Death: 25 Aug 1848 in Hillsboro, Cain, Indiana

Relation to Me: My 2nd Cousin, 8x Removed

Parents: Jesse Mendenhall (1753-1833) &

          Ann (ULN) (1761-1844)

Siblings:

1. Sarah A (1776-1850)

2. Samuel (1785-?)

3. William M. (1790-?)

Marriage: 16 Jan 1804 in Jefferson County, Tennessee

Absolom married Judith Taliffero (1780-1845)--daughter of Richard Taliffero & Dorcas Perkins.

Absolom and Judith had 10 Children:

1. Taliffero (Son) (1804-1835)

2. Jane (b. 1807)

3. Dorcas (1809-1869)

4. Sarah J. (b. 1809)

5. Temperance (b. 1812)

6. Mary (b. 1816)

7. Jesse L. (1817-1898)

8. William N. (1819-1850)

9. Elizabeth A. (1821-1872)

10. Judith (b. 1823)

Residence(s) & Occupation(s):

~1804 (16 Jan) (age 23): Jefferson County, Tennessee

Tennessee Marriage Record

~1810 (age 30): Grainger County, Tennessee

Census Record

~1824 (10 Mar) (age 43): Fountain County, Indiana

Land Record: 80 acres in Sec 8, range 6-W, Township 19-N, Accession # IN0890_.254

~1830 (age 50): Fountain, Indiana

4 Total People in Household- No Slaves

~1840 (age 60): Cain, Fountain, Indiana

2 Total People in Household- No Slaves

~It was rumored in the Mendenhall family history that Absolom's mother was a Cherokee Indian, but Ancestry.com's DNA test (from 1 male and 2 female descendants) has proven that there was never a Cherokee Indian marriage in this Mendenhall line.

~Absolom was mentioned in a book- "History of Fountain County", written by H.W. Beckwith in 1881. 

"The name of Absolem Mendenhall ought to appear among those who found a home in the county in 1823;he was a man of great influence and usefulness in the 'settlement'. 

He was the first justice of the peace in the territory which is now Fountain county; he wrote all of the deeds; settled all of the disputes, married all of the people, cried all the sales, and in short did all the public business of the neighborhood for years.

He was possessed of strong common sense, sterling integrity, an intuitive sense of justice, and a great good humor.

His last public service was in representing his county in the state senate. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mendenhall #49: Absolom Mendenhall (b. 1834)

Birth: 1834 in Oregon County, Missouri

Death: Unknown

Relation to Me: My 2nd Cousin, 6x Removed

Parents: Benjamin Mendenhall Jr. (1806-1835) &

         Cynthia Jerusha Sweet (1805-?)

Siblings:

1. Alfred (1825-?)

2. Maria (1835-?)

Marriage: Unknown

Today in My Family History- Week 38

Since I'll be out of town next week, I won't be on the computer or on my blog very often, so I'm going to post this one early---

Week of September 14- 20

A Very Happy Birthday to:

~My Nephew- a "Living Herrin"-- September 14-- 10 Years Old

~My Father-in-Law- a "Living Smith"-- September 15-- 63 Years

~My 9th Cousin, 2x Removed-- a "Living Mendenhall"-- Sept 16-- 33 Years Old

In Loving Memory of:

~Mary Bedleman (1817-1895)-- 78 Years Old

My 3rd Great Grandmother

She was BORN on September 16, 1817.

~Samuel Anthony Trick (1889-1958)-- 69 Years Old

The Husband of my 1st Cousin, 3x Removed.

He DIED on September 16, 1958.

~Mary E. Heider (1929-1998)-- 68 Years Old

My 2nd Cousin, 2x Removed

She was BORN on September 16, 1929.

~John W. Mendenhall (1877-1894)-- 17 Years Old

My 3rd Great Grand Uncle

He was BORN on September 17, 1877.

~Albert Vincent Heider (1894-1897)-- 3 Years Old

My 1st Cousin, 3x Removed.

He DIED on September 20, 1897.

~Charity Grubb Beeson (1715-1809)-- 94 Years Old

My 8th Great Grandmother

She DIED on September 20, 1809. 

Today in My Family History: Week 37 (Late)

Week of September 07-13

A Very Happy Birthday to:

~My 1st Cousin- September 11- a "Living Potchik"

-- 28 Years Old

~My Brother-in-Law- September 12- a "Living Smith"

-- 32 Years Old

A Very Happy Anniversary to:

~My 1st Cousin, 2x Removed- September 10

a "Living Jeckering" and his wife- Married 60 Years!

~My 2nd Great Grand Aunt- September 10, 1901

Rose Margaret Jeckering & Frank J. Raab married.

In Loving Memory: 

~Deidamia Mendenhall (1818-1873)-- 54 Years Old

My 4th Great Grand Aunt

She was BORN on Sep 07, 1818.

~Clarinda Jane Robinson (Niles) (1835-1909)-- 74 Years Old

My 3rd Great Grandmother

She was BORN on September 09, 1935.

~Ruth Jeckering (1931-1931)- Stillborn

My Grand Aunt

She was BORN and DIED on September 09, 1931.

~Anna Josephine Heider (1888-1981)-- 93 Years Old

My 1st Cousin, 3x Removed

She DIED on September 10, 1981.

~Johann Heinrich Jeckering (b. 1931)

My 3rd Great Grand Uncle

He was BORN on September 11, 1831.

~Gerhard Cletus Jeckering (1900-1967)-- 67 Years Old

My Great Grandfather

He DIED on September 12, 1967.

~Mary Alice Brinkman (1916-2010)-- 94 Years Old

My 2nd Cousin, 2x Removed

She DIED on September 12, 2010.

~Mary Dorothy Rose (1901-1994)-- 93 Years Old

The Wife of my 1st Cousin, 3x Removed.

She DIED on September 12, 1994.

~Ellen E. Heider (1906-1999)-- 92 Years Old

My 1st Cousin, 3x Removed.

She DIED on September 13, 1999.

Fun with Find a Grave: Harry Potter

Today's Character Name: Characters from Harry Potter Series

Harry Potter is a series of seven novels written by J.K. Rowling, with the first book released on 03 Jun 1997.

J.K. Rowling - Joanne "Jo" Rowling
B: 31 Jul 1965
D: Still Living


Most of the Harry Potter main characters (actors) are still living.

~Harry James Potter
B: 31 Jul 1980 (same bday month and day as the author)
(Google states Harry's 17th birthday was 31 Jul 1997)

So, how many Harry Potter's are there on Find a Grave??
Harry Potter: 347!
Harry James Potter: 1

-- The one Harry James Potter on Find a Grave was:
Harry James Potter
B: 13 Aug 1947
D: 30 Jul 2003-- Buried in Community Cemetery
                        in Iowa County, Iowa.

His parents were Harry H. Potter (1920-1983) & Dorothy Mae Busby (1925-2010).


In the films, Harry Potter is played by Daniel Jacob Radcliffe, B: 23 Jul 1989.
(There are 18 Daniel Radcliffe's on Find a Grave).

~Ronald Bilius "Ron" Weasley
B: 01 Mar 1980

So, how many Ronald Weasley's were there on Find a Grave? 0!!

In the films, Ron is played by Rupert Alexander Lloyd Grint, B: 24 Aug 1988.
(There is also no Rupert Grint's on Find a Grave).

~Hermoine Jean Granger
B: 19 Sep 1979

So, how many Hermoine Granger's are on Find a Grave? 0!! (Doesn't surprise me though)

In the films, Hermoine was played by Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson, B: 15 Apr 1990).
(There are 643 Emma Watson's on Find a Grave)

~Albus Dumbledore -- Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
B: 03 Aug 1881

So, how many Albus Dumbledore's are there on Find a Grave? 0!
I searched "Albus Dumbledore" as well as just the surname Dumbledore, found nothing.

In the films, Dumbledore was played by 2 different actors:

Richard Harris (films 1-2) & Michael Gambon (Films 3-8)

Richard St. John Harris
B: 01 Oct 1930
D: 25 Oct 2002-- Buried: Cremated, Ashes scattered at his home in the Bahamas.

"Richard Harris" on Find a Grave: 1,633!!!

Sir Michael John Gambon
B: 19 Oct 1940
D: Still Living

"Michael Gambon" on Find a Grave: 4
"Michael John Gambon" on Find a Grave: 0

A Million Mendenhall's: #46 & #47

Mendenhall #46: Absolom Mendenhall (1805-1884)

Birth: 25 Oct 1805 in Clinton County, Ohio

Death: 01 Mar 1884 in Richmond, Wayne, Indiana

Relation to Me: My 2nd Cousin, 8x Removed

Parents: Stephen Mendenhall (1769-1843) &

         Ann Bell (1776-1848)

Siblings:

1. Mahala (1803-1838)

2. Joab (1807-?)

3. Susanna (1810-1886)

4. James (1812-?)

5. Mary (1815-?)

6. Sarah (1818-?)

Marriage: 29 Aug 1832 in Clinton County, Ohio

Absolom married Alice Davis (1803-1873) and they had 2 children:

1. Elizabeth Ann (1834-1899)

2. Sarah Jane (1837-1898)

Residence(s) & Occupation(s):

~1830 (age 25): Fountain City, Fountain, Indiana

4 Total Persons- No Slaves.

~1840 (age 35): Liberty, Clinton, Ohio

7 Total Persons- No Slaves.

~1850 (12 Oct) (age 44): Liberty, Clinton, Ohio

Farmer; Living with Wife, 2 Daughters and 2 Boarders.

~1860 (16 Jul) (age 54): Wayne, Wayne, Ohio

Farmer; living with Wife and 2 Daughters.

~1862 (age 57): Indiana

Tax List: 1 H (horse?) & Wag (wagon)- $75- $1

~1864 (age 59): Indiana

Tax List: Amount of Tax- 3.36

~1870 (04 Aug) (age 64): Wayne, Wayne, Indiana

Retired Farmer; Widowed; Living with 2 Daughters.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mendenhall #47: Absolom Mendenhall (1830-1907)

Birth: 27 Sep 1830 in Greene County, Ohio

Death: 02 Apr 1907 in Livermore, Alameda, California

        Died of Heart Attack

Burial: Oak Knoll Pioneer Memoiral Park

        in Livermore, California

Relation to Me: My 3rd Cousin, 6x Removed

Parents: William Mendenhall (1794-1873) &

          Sarah Peterson (1799-1883)

Siblings:

1.Elizabeth (1818-?)

2. Delilah (1820-?)

3. William M. (1823-1911)

4. Abigail (1825-1894)

5. Martin (1828-1898)

6. Sardina (1832-?)

7. Sydena (1833-1880)

8. Martha (1837-1910)

9. Mary (1840-1842)

Marriage: Absolom married twice:

(1) on 21 Mar 1849 to Adelia "Delia" M. Sutts (1834-1870). They had 5 Children:

1. William Carson (1850-1940)

2. Mary M. (1854-?)

3. Henry Alford (1858-?)

4. Martha (1860-?)

5. Hiram Douglas (1865-1956)

(2) Bef 1867 to Christiana Clark (1847-1907). 

They had 4 Children:

1. Georgiana (1867-?)

2. Darwin (1872-1874)

3. Earnest Darwin (1879-1939)

4. Josie Alvira (1880-?)

Residence(s) & Occupation(s):

~1850 (age 20): Green River, Emery, Utah

Laborer, Living with Wife Adelia

~1860 (08 Aug) (age 29): Eden, Alameda, California

Herdman; Living with Wife Delia & 4 Children.

~1870 (23 Aug) (age 39): Murray, Alameda, California

Laboerer; Living with Children.

~1880 (01 Jun) (age 49): San Ramon, Contra Costa, California

Farmer; Living with Wife & 5 Children.

Obituary from the Livermore Herald on 06 Apr 1907:

PASSING OF A PIONEER

Absalom Mendenhall succumbs to a heart seizure.

Another of the early settlers of this valley and a pioneer of California has answered the last call. Absalom Mendenhall was found dead on the banks of the Arroyo Valle between Dos Mesas and Cresta Blanca Tuesday afternoon. He had left his home on the first named place to get a team and was found as stated soon after by one of the work men at Cresta Blanca.  Deputy Coroner Reimers was notified and he went out after the remains. An autopsy revealed the cause of death as valvular disease of the heart.

The funeral which was largely attended took place Thursday afternoon from the residence of Jessie Bowles. The services were conducted by Rev. Jas. B. Stone. The internment was in the family plot in the Oak Knoll Cemetary. The honorary pall bearers were Volney Still, Hiram Bailey, D.M. Teeter, JW. Clark, Daniel Inman and F.R. Fassett. The casket bearers were W.H. Farragher, Wm. Schluter, D. McDonald, C.E. Beck, T.D. Coffman and George Beck.

Deceased was born in Ohio, and was 76 years, 7 months and 15 days old at the time of his death. He came to California in 1850 and located in Santa Clara. He came to the Livermore Valley in 1869 and settled on what was afterward known as the Arlington Place.Later he engaged in the stock business in the Livermore Mountains and for many years his time has been divided between his range and his home in Livermore.

Deceased leaves a wife and six children, four of whom were by a former wife- Wm. Mendenhall of San Luis Obispo County, Henry Mendenhall of Nevada, Mrs. Mattie Church of Oakland, Douglas Mendenhall of Napa, Ernest Mendenhall and Mrs. Josie Windsor of this place. He also leaves a brother Wm. M. Mendenhall of this place and Mrs. Wm. Johnson of Danville.