Mary C Davis was born in Ohio in 1835 or 1836. I have not identified her parents at this time. There were several Davis families living in Fairfield County, Ohio  and several of these families had a daughter names Mary. They are probably related but I can not confirm.

She married Jacob Hite in Fairfield, Ohio on October 3, 1861. They had one son whose name was Jesse. He was born on June 1, 1868. It is through Jesse Hite’s death certificate that I could determine his father’s name. I do not find a death record for his father, Jacob, but I assume that he died which would account for Mary’s second marriage. (Nor did I find a divorce record.)

On October 2, 1873, Mary C Hite married George Meeks in Huntingon County, Indiana. George and Mary had one son, William Meeks who was born on December 22, 1875. In the 1880 Federal Census, George and Mary are found in Uniondale, Indiana. They have four children living with them; Annie Meeks (1859), George Meeks (1862), William Meeks (1875), Jesse D. Hite (1868).  Annie and George Meeks are George’s children with his first wife Margaret Watson who died in 1864.

One hundred and twenty years ago, Mary C Davis died on April 24, 1898 in Uniondale, Indiana. She is buried in Prospect Cemetery in the Meeks family plot.

Rest in Peace, Mary!

Love, Jan

Mary C Davis Hite Meeks is the Mother-in-Law of my Great Grand Aunt Dessie Crites Meeks.

Charles W. Hayner – 1870-1910

Charles Wesley Hayner was the son of John Hayner and Sara Elizabeth Bessay (Seaburn) Hayner. He was born on November 24, 1870, in Saint Clair,  Michigan. The birth record show he was born in 1871 but his tombstone and death Certificate says 1870. John and Sara had nine children; William Henry (1862), John R. (1866), Nellie May (1868), Charles Wesley (1870), Frank (1874), Paul Kelley (1877), Leslie ( 1879), Fredrick Milford (1884), Alexander Bessay (1886)

In the 1880 Federal Census, Charles Wesley is listed with his parents on Mulberry Street and seven of his siblings. He is ten years old and attending school. By the 1900 Federal Census, he still lives at home. He is twenty-nine years old and lists his occupation as a day laborer. Seven of the boys still live at home, several are sailors and the rest are day laborers.  In the 1910 Federal Census, Charles is listed at his parents home. His occupation is now listed as a sailor. He is thirty-nine years old and not married.

One hundred and eight years ago today, Charles died in Sault St Marie, Michigan aboard the Steamer Polynesia on April 17, 1910. The census record for the 1910 census was recorded on April 22, 1910, five days after he died.  I can’t help but wonder if his parents did not know yet. The Death Certificate lists the cause of death as Cholera Morbus which was exasperated by a vascular issue with the heart. Cholera Marbus is a gastro bacteria illness.

Charles Wesley Hayner Death Certificate

The Hayner Family plot is located in the Hillside Cemetery in Saint Clair, Michigan.

John and Sara Hayner Family Plot 

Hillside Cemetery – EST 1810

Rest in Peace, Charles Wesley!

Love, Jan

Charles Wesley in my first cousin three times removed.

Harold Frances Cole was born in Van Wert, Ohio, the son of Franks C and Grace T (Stillwell) Cole on June 27, 1904. In the 1910 Federal Census, Frank and Grace Cole have two children; Hazel (1903) and Harold(1904). They live at 723 Cable Street in Van Wert. In the 1920 Federal Census, Frank is a fifteen years old and living with his parents in at the same location in Ohio. He is working for a grocery store as a Salesman and it appears that he is no longer attending school. In the 1940 Census, it states that Frank went to school thru the eighth grade.

Harold married Minta Izora Meeks on January 19, 1923, in Fort Wayne Indiana. Harold and Minta had four children; Betty Jeanne (1923-1925), Wendel Harold (1926), Duane Roger (1930), David Stuart(1936).

In the 1930 Federal Census, Harold and Minta lived on South Wayne Ave. He is working as a molder for in a General Electric factory. They have one son living with them, Wendell and Minta’s mother, Arthela M. Meeks. In the 1940 Federal Census, They are now living in Union Township, Wells County. They have their three sons, Wendell, Dwane, and David living with them and Minta’s mother, Arthela. Through the years they lived in several locations in the Fort Wayne area according to Fort Wayne directories. He worked his whole career for General Electric.

Thirty-seven years ago, Harold Frances Cole died on April 10, 1981, of a heart attack. He is buried in Prospect Cemetery in Uniondale, Indiana.

Prospect Cemetery is located behind the Methodist church in Uniondale, Indiana.

Harold is the husband of the neice of my Great Grand Aunt.

Rest in Peace, Harold,

Love, Jan

Sarah Dix was the daughter of Leonard and Sarah Dix who was born in 1658 in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Leonard and Sarah had seven children; Sarah (1658), Elizabeth ( 1660), John (1661), Samuel Dix (1662), Mercy ( 1665), William ( 1667), Hannah (1673)

Sarah married John Francis on January 16, 1680. Three hundred and thirty-six years ago, Sarah died on April 3, 1682. It was two short years after she was married. There were no children born to this marriage.  I can not help but wonder how and why she died at the age of twenty-four.  It was so long ago there is no way to know.

She is buried in Wethersfield Village Cemetery in Wethersfield, Connecticut, in the Francis Family plot in the ancient burial ground. (Section B-23-p)

Sarah is my 6^th Great Grand Aunt. Rest in peace, Sarah.

Love Jan