Miriam Best was the daughter of Conrad and Catherine (Loucks) Best born  on February 21, 1826 in Bayham Township, Elgin, Ontario.   Miriam Best married Nathan Howell on July 25, 1848 in Middlesex, Ontario.

In the 1851 Census, Miriam and Nathan have several children living with them; W. H. Howell (1835), Nathan (1836) , Elizabeth (1837), Elisha (1848), Lorenzo (1849), Margaret (1850). I can only assume that the older Howell children are either siblings of Nathan or children from a previous marriage. Nathan is 14 years older that Miriam.

In the 1861 Canadian Census, Miriam and Nathan have seven children living with them; Elisha (1848), Lorenzo (1849), John (1853), Lewis E (1854), Alvin M. (1855), Margaret (1851), Alice (1859).

In the 1871 Canadian Census, Miriam and Nathan Howell are found in Bayham Township. They have seven children ; Elisha (1849), Lorenzo (1851), Margaret (1852), John (1854) , Lewis (1856), Alvin (1857) , Alice (1858) and Miriam’s Mother, Catheren Best (1801) living with them.

The birth dates for all the children are not the same within the Census records. These errors could be as an result of the census taker or inaccurate information provided by  Miriam. It is hard to tell at this time. The names are all accurate.

One hundred and twenty one years ago today, Miriam died at the age of 72 from what appears to have been a stroke. The death record indicates that it was a blood rupture. She is buried in the Best cemetery in Corinth, Elgin, Ontario.

Rest in peace, Miriam!

Love, Jan

Miriam is my three times Great Grand Aunt.

William Crane was born in Ontario in 1816. His parents were of Scottish descent. He married Sara Ann Best in Middlesex, Ontario on December 22, 1841. William and Sarah had eight children; Abigail (1842), Nancy Jane (1843), William B (1851), Oreanna (Anna) (1851), Amanda (1857), Annatta (1859), Samuel (1863), James (1870).

William Crane was a Farmer. In some of the Ontario Census, William’s name is spelled Crain. In the 1861 Ontario Census, William and Sarah are listed with six children; Abigail, Nancy Jane, William B, Oreanna, Amanda, H. E. Crane(1858) who I believe must be Annatta. I am thinking the Census taker recorded it wrong. In the 1871 Ontario Census, William can be found in East Elgin, Ontario with his wife and six of his children; Jane, Anna, Amanda, Annette, Samuel and James. Two of the older children have married and moved on. He lists his occupation as a farmer. He is a Wesleyan Methodist. In the 1881 Ontario Census, William and Sarah have three children who still live at home, Amanda, Samuel and James.

One hundred and thirty six years ago today, April 23, 1883, William Crane died. He is buried in the Best Cemetery in Corinth, Elgin County, Ontario.

Rest in peace, William

Love, Jan

William is the husband of my third Great Grand Aunt, Sara Ann Best.

Abigail Leete, daughter of the Andrew and Elizabeth (Jorden) Leete, was born in Guilford Connecticut in 1683. Andrew and Elizabeth had six children; William (1671), Caleb (1673), Samuel (1677), Dorothy (1680), Abigail (1683), Mercy (1685).

Abigail married Abraham Bradley after the death of his first wife. Abraham Bradley died in 1721. Abigail married Ebenezer Stone in 1725. Ebenezer Stone is the son of Lieutenant Nathaniel Stone. Abigail and Ebenezer had one daughter whose name was Abigail.

Two hundred and fifty-one years ago today, Abigail Leete Stone died in Guilford, Connecticut at the age of eighty-four years old.

She was buried in West Cemetery, Madison Township, New Haven County, Connecticut.

Rest in peace, Abigail!

Love, Jan

Abigail is my 7^th Great Grand Aunt. She is a fourth generation descendant of William Leete who was one of the founders of Guilford Connecticut, President of the Federation of the Colonies and the first Governor of Connecticut.

John Alden was the son of James Lawton and Laura (Stevens) Dix. He was born on December 25,1861 in Glens Falls, Washington County, New York.  James and Laura had four children; Walter (1858), Annie (1859), John (1861), Charles (1864).

In the 1870 Federal Census, James and Laura are living in Queensbury New York with their children and James’s father Samuel. James and Samuel have real estate holdings in excess of twenty five thousand dollars declared in the census. They are both farmers and it is my belief that Samuel is a widower. In the 1880 Federal Census, the family remains in Queensbury. James and Laura have the same number of children, and it appears that James is no longer a farmer but is a property manager. John Alden is nineteen years old and is attending Cornell University. He graduated from Cornell University in 1883 and continued his education at Hamilton College until 1912. He became a successful businessman who was involved in the lumber and paper industry and later in banking.

In 1899, John Alden married Gertrude Thompson. In the 1900 Federal Census, they live in Greenwich, New York. They have no children but have two servants which they employ. John’s occupation is listed as Capitalist.

John became active in the Democratic National Convention in 1904 and served as chairman of the State Democratic Committee from 1908-1910. John was issued a US Passport on April 2, 1908. They live at 491 State St in Albany, New York. In the 1910 Federal Census, John Alden’s occupation is listed as a Banker. He and Gertrude have no children but have five servants employed in their household. In 1911, he was elected as a Democratic and became the 38^th Governor of the State of New York and served for two years until 1913. While he was governor he was credited with establishing a New York State Factory Commission which was, responsible for inspecting conditions in the factories, improving fire codes, building codes and passing a law which limited the work week to fifty four hours. After leaving office he retired from politics but was a very successful in other business ventures.

John Alden Dix – Photo from Findagrave

In the 1920 Federal Census, they are living in Albany, New York and they have one servant working for them.

Ninety one years ago today, April 9, 1928, John Alden Dix died in Manhattan, New York of a heart attack. He was buried in the Thompson plot in section 41, lot 11 in the Albany Rural Cemetery located in Albany, New York along side his wife Gertrude who died a few years earlier.

Historic Albany Rural Cemetery – Est. 1841

Rest in Peace, John.

Love, Jan

John Alden is my fifth cousin three times removed on the maternal side of my family.

Carrie E. Carrier was the daughter of David C. and Elizabeth M. (Densmore) Carrier born on October 1,1880 in Darlington, Ontario. David and Elizabeth had seven children; Carrie (1880), Albert (1882), Adah (1884), George (1884), David Lloyd (1893), Ruth (1896), Mildred(1902)

In the 1900 Federal Census, Carrie is an 19 year old young woman who still lives at home. She no longer attends school but is not employed since their is no occupation listed. By the 1910 Federal Census, Carrie still remains at home. She lists her occupation as a dress maker. Carrie never married.

In the 1920 Census, Carrie is 39 years old and she lives in Detroit with her widowed mother on Congress Street. She is working as a machine operator for the Auto Industry. In the 1930 Census, Carrie’s brother Albert is listed as head of household. Carrie works for the Auto Industry and remains a machine operator. They are living at 3226 Clairmont. By the time of the of the 1940 Census, Ruth is listed as head of household. Carrie and Albert J. are still living with her at the same Clairmont street address. Their mother, Elizabeth is living with them. She is 83 years old. Carrie remains employed by the Auto Industry as a machine operator. She is fifty-nine years old.

Forty one years ago today, Carrie died in Roseville, Michigan at the ripe old age of 97. She is likely buried in the Grand Lawn Cemetery in section 6 with the remaining family members. Unfortunately there appears to be no tombstone for Carrie and I do not have .

Rest in peace, Carrie!

Love, Jan

Carrie is my first cousin two times removed.