Baxter Family: Surname Saturday

I’m researching my husband’s Irish ancestors as part of the Irish Research 201 class I’m taking from Sharon Carmack at Family Tree University. This is a summary of his Baxter ancestors.

Name

Baxter is a Scottish/Northern English surname meaning “baker.” This family probably descended from ancestors that came from Scotland to Ireland as part of the Plantation of Ulster in the 1600’s.

Generation 1

Henry Baxter was born about 1850 in County Antrim, Ireland. He married Elizabeth Cleeland in Belfast in 1871. They had three known children—James, Robert, and Isaac—born in Belfast and Larne, County Antrim, in the 1870’s. The family was Presbyterian. Henry's occupation was master plumber.

Elizabeth Cleeland Baxter died before 1907, at which time Henry married Mary Reid. Henry and Mary did not have children and lived in Bangor, County Down. Henry died October 7, 1930 in Bangor.

Generation 2

Henry’s middle son, Robert Cleeland Baxter, was born September 18, 1874. He married Annie Carmichael Flack on August 29, 1896 in Belfast. They had five children: Henry (who died in infancy), another Henry (called “Harry”), Isaac (also died young), Agnes (called “Nan”), and Margaret. After serving with the British Merchant Marines, Robert immigrated to America in 1908, ultimately settling in Cleveland, Ohio. He found work first as an engineer, and later as a guard at the Cleveland Art Museum. He was naturalized in Cleveland in 1924.

Annie did not come to America until 1921, when she arrived in New York with Nan and Margaret on the Carmania. She and Robert had spent 13 years living on different continents. Annie Flack Baxter died in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 14, 1945, at 68 years old. Robert lived to be 81, passing away in Cleveland on October 22, 1955.

The Baxter family in Cleveland, l to r: Margaret, Annie, Nan, Robert, and Harry

Generation 3

Robert’s second son, Harry Baxter, was born in Belfast on August 26, 1900. In his father’s absence, he grew up under his grandfather Henry’s strict tutelage.  Although underage, he voluntarily served four years with the Merchant Marines in the Great War. In 1920, he immigrated to America on the Baltic and made his way to his father in Cleveland.

Harry Baxter married Leatha Evans on May 27, 1925 in Cleveland. He started a plumbing business, which faltered during the Great Depression. He later operated Baxter Fuel & Supply Company, supplying coal to homes and businesses in Garrettsville, Ohio. Harry died after a brief illness at the age of 50 on September 19, 1950, leaving his wife and daughter. Leatha remarried and lived to be 92 years old. 

Research Questions:

• Who were the parents of Henry Baxter?
• When and in what town was Henry Baxter born?
• Who were the parents of Elizabeth Cleeland?
• When and where was Elizabeth Cleeland born?
• When (in Belfast) did Elizabeth Cleeland Baxter die?

Note: while sources are not provided here due to length, I have a fully sourced version of this that I'd be glad to send you. Just email me and ask. And if you have Baxter ancestors or are researching families in County Antrim, I'd love to hear from you!

Related Posts:

Tribute to an Irishman: Harry Baxter

Cruisin’ in the 1920’s

Robert Baxter of Cleveland

Names, Places, and Most Wanted Faces, Part 2: Surname Saturday

Last week I listed the surnames of my ancestors in the “Names, Places, and Most Wanted Faces” meme being circulated by Thomas MacEntee of Destination: Austin Family. This week I’m doing the same for my husband’s ancestors. The guidelines for participating in the meme, which is designed to help researchers and cousins make connections with each other, are:

1. List your surnames in alphabetical order as follows:  [SURNAME]: State/province (county/subdivision), date range
2. At the end, list your most wanted ancestor with details
3. Leave a comment with a link to your post on Destination: Austin Family 

My husband’s ancestors came predominately from the United Kingdom—England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The early ones settled in New England for several generations before venturing westward to Ohio. Drum roll please for:

• BARNUM:  Connecticut (Litchfield Co.) to 1800, Massachusetts (Berkshire Co.) 1795-1840 & Ohio (Portage Co.) 1835-1910
• BAXTER:  Northern Ireland (Counties Antrim & Down) 1800-1930 & Ohio (Cuyahoga & Portage Co.) 1908-present
• BEUM:  Ohio (Knox, Delaware, & Franklin Co.) 1800-1910
• BISHOP:  Massachusetts (?) to 1840 & Ohio (Portage Co.) 1835-present
• CARMICHAEL:  Northern Ireland (County Antrim) 1800-1930
• CRITES:  Pennsylvania (Berks Co.) to 1840 & Ohio (Ashland & Fairfield Co.) 1830-1970
• DICKEY:  Ireland (Castletown) 1800-1860, Ontario (Brampton) by 1860 & Ohio (Geauga & Portage Co.) 1880-1930
• EVANS:  Wales (Montgomeryshire) 1700-1900 & Ohio (Franklin & Cuyahoga Co.) 1840-present
• FLACK:  Northern Ireland (County Antrim) 1800-1930
• HART:  Connecticut (Hartford Co.) to 1800, Massachusetts (Berkshire Co.) 1790-1850 & Ohio (Portage Co.) 1840-1900
• IVES:  Connecticut (New Haven Co.) 1700-1810, New York (Onondaga Co.) 1800-1830 & Ohio (Ashland & Geauga Co.) 1825-1900
• LOCKE:  Connecticut (Merrimack Co.) to 1850
• LUCAS:  Ohio (Muskingham & Licking Co.) 1790-1890
• MATTHEWS:  Connecticut (Hartford Co.) 1730-1810
• PARKER:  Ontario, Canada (Brampton) by 1860 & Ohio (Geauga Co.) to 1930
• SANBORN:  New Hampshire (Rockingham & Merrimack Co.) 1700-1850 & Ohio (Ashland Co.) 1835-1960
• SMITH:  New Hampshire (Rockingham & Belknap Co.) 1730-1850 & Ohio (Ashland Co.) 1830-1920
• TUTTLE:  Ohio (Holmes & Knox Co.) 1800-1930 

And now for the Most Wanted Ancestor:

• The father of Fitch BISHOP. Fitch was born in August 1811, probably in Massachusetts. He married Sarah Ann BARNUM in 1835 in Sheffield, Berkshire Co., Mass. By 1840 they had settled in Portage Co., Ohio and started a family that would remain there for five generations. But who were Fitch’s parents? It’s possible that his given name was originally a family surname, so I have been looking for a BISHOP-FITCH marriage. One census record gave his birthplace as New York. Assuming Fitch was not dropped out of the sky by aliens, his parents must be waiting to be found somewhere.

If you’re researching any of the family lines listed above, I’d love to hear from you. It’s always great to make new connections and meet potential cousins. Please leave a comment below or email me at sbishop(at)aSenseofFamily(dot)com.

Related Posts:

The Final Days of Fitch Bishop

Albert Bishop (1838-1865)

Names, Places, and Most Wanted Faces Part 1: Surname Saturday

Names, Places, and Most Wanted Faces 1: Surname Saturday

Thomas MacEntee has invited bloggers to post their “Names, Places, and Most Wanted Faces” for other researchers to see, and I’m happy to participate. You can read about how the meme started on Thomas’ blog, Destination: Austin Family. In a nutshell, here are the guidelines:

1. List your surnames in alphabetical order as follows:

    [SURNAME]: State/province (county/subdivision), date range
2. At the end, list your most wanted ancestor with details.
3. Leave a comment with a link to your post on Destination: Austin Family here.

Today I’m listing the names for my ancestors, with a similar post to follow on my husband’s ancestors. Drum roll please for: 

• ADAMS:  Virginia (Prince William Co.) to 1840
• BALLENGER:  Virginia (Fairfax & Fauquier Co.) to 1840 & Ohio (Athens, Delaware, & Franklin Co.) 1835-present
• CLARK:  Ohio  (Delaware Co.) 1830-1970
• COMFORT:  Pennsylvania  (Lehigh Co.) to 1900
• DARST:  Virginia  (Shenandoah Co.) to 1820 & Ohio (Gallia Co.) 1800-1900
• EBERHARD:  Pennsylvania (Lehigh Co.) to 1910 & Ohio (Logan & Delaware Co.) 1900-present
• EDWARDS:  Ohio (Delaware Co.) 1850-1950
• EISENHARD:  Pennsylvania  (Lehigh Co.) to 1900
• FOX:  Pennsylvania & Virginia  (Shenandoah Co.) 1750-1800
• HERREL:  Germany (Baden) to 1900 & Ohio (Hamilton & Franklin Co.) 1880-present
• KING:  North Carolina (Surry Co.) 1720-1830 & Ohio (Gallia & Montgomery Co.) 1810-1970
• ROUSH:  Germany (Darmstadt, Rhineland-Pfalz) to 1750, Pennsylvania 1730-1770, Virginia (Shenandoah Co.) 1740-1820, & Ohio (Gallia Co.) 1795-1900
• SCHIEBEL:  Ohio  (Franklin Co.) 1880-1960
• SEELY:  Indiana (Rush Co.) 1840-1870 & Ohio (Franklin Co.) 1860-1940
• STEELE: West Virginia  (Mason Co.) 1825-1880 & Ohio (Meigs & Franklin Co.) 1850-present

 And now for my Most Wanted Ancestor:

• The father of Charles BALLENGER. Charles was born about 1815, possibly in Fairfax County, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Jane ADAMS and moved to Athens County, Ohio by 1840, then to Delaware County, where he died on 19 October 1891. Charles served as administrator for the estate of James BALLENGER (c. 1816-1855) in Athens County, and was also a neighbor of William BALLENGER (born c.1818). Do these three share a common father or grandfather? The search continues.

If you’re researching any of the family lines listed above, I’d love to hear from you. It’s always great to make new connections and meet potential cousins. You can leave a comment below or email me at sbishop(at)aSenseofFamily(dot)com.


Related Posts:
Surname Saturday: Ballenger Family
Roush Family Ancestry: Surname Saturday
Names, Places, and Most Wanted Faces, Part 2: Surname Saturday

Roush Family Ancestry - Surname Saturday

The Roush (Rausch) & Allied Families of America recently held their 83^rd Annual Reunion, celebrating the 300^th anniversary of the birth of John Adam Roush. Although I was unable to attend this year, I did go to the 2010 Roush Reunion in Akron, Ohio, and had a wonderful time meeting many new cousins. I am a descendant of two of John Adam’s sons, Philip and Jacob. Here's a brief overview of my Roush ancestry:

Generation 1

John Adam Roush (Johan Adam Rausch), born about 1711 near Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany; immigrated to Philadelphia in 1736; died 19 October 1786 in Shenandoah County, Virginia. He married Susanna Sehler. She was born about 1713 in Germany, and died in 1796 in Shenandoah County. They had at least 10 children: Philip, Henry, John, Jacob, Daniel, Eleanor, Mary, Elisabeth, George, and Jonas.

Generation 2

Philip Roush, born about 1741 in Pennsylvania or Virginia; served in the Dunmore County Virginia Militia during the Revolutionary War; died 1 March 1820 in Gallia County, Ohio. He married Catharine Kelchner about 1764. She died in 1833 in Gallia County. They had 13 children: John, Elizabeth, Susanna, Michael, Philip, Catherine, Henry, Sarah, Molly, Eva, George, Hannah, and Jonas.

Jacob Roush, born about 1746 in Pennsylvania or Virginia; served in the Dunmore County Virginia Militia during the Revolutionary War; died in 1830 in Gallia County, Ohio. He married Catharine Fox on 21 February 1775 in Dunmore [Shenandoah] County, Virginia. She was born about 1758, and died before 1827 in Gallia County. They had 8 children: Rosanna, Dorothy, Catharine, John, Adam, Susanna, Paul, and Cornelius.

Generation 3

Adam Roush (son of Jacob), born 29 November 1785 in Shenandoah County, Virginia; died in 1846 in Gallia County, Ohio. He married Hannah Roush (daughter of Philip) on 12 April 1808 in Athens County, Ohio. She was born 30 December 1790 in Shenandoah County; died 26 March 1876 in Gallia County. They had 3 children: William, Gideon, and Lydia.

Generation 4

Gideon Roush, born 11 September 1812 in Gallia County, Ohio; died 31 July 1894 in Gallia County. He married Elizabeth Rayburn on 2 March 1837 in Gallia County. She was born 18 March 1815 in Virginia, and died 22 April 1855 in Gallia County. They had 8 possible children: Admiral Rodney, Benjamin, Adam, Wilson, Electa, Abner, William, and James.

Generation 5

Electa Roush, born 11 August 1845 in Gallia County, Ohio; died 30 June 1932 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. She married Newel King on 26 May 1869 in Mason County, [West] Virginia. He was born 17 January 1838 in Gallia County, served in Co. B, 91^st Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, and died 17 September 1896 in Gallia County. They had 4 children: Wesley Berlin, Curtis Walden, Minnie, and Bella.

If you are a Roush descendant or are researching Roush genealogy, please contact me at sbishop@asenseoffamily.com. I have extensive documentation on the families listed here, and would welcome the chance to share my sources and collaborate our findings.

Surname Saturday: Ballenger family

My g-g-g-grandfather, Charles BALLENGER, came to Athens County, Ohio sometime between 1833 and 1840. I am working to establish proof of his parents and where he came from. Charles is almost certainly related to James BALLENGER (died 1855) and William BALLENGER, who came to Athens County about the same time and lived next door to him. The surname is sometimes spelled Ballinger.

                     Great-Great-Great Grandparents

Charles BALLENGER, born 29 June 1815 in Virginia, died 19 October 1891 in Delaware County, Ohio. He married:

Elizabeth Jane ADAMS, born 13 August 1815 in Virginia, died 13 September 1891 in Delaware County, Ohio. They had 8 children:

1.    Margaret Ann BALLENGER, b. ca 1838, Ohio

2.    Martha BALLENGER, b. ca 1841 Athens Co., Ohio

3.    Rebecca BALLENGER, b. ca 1843 Athens Co., Ohio

4.    Priscilla BALLENGER, b. ca 1845 Athens Co., Ohio

5.    Ann Maria BALLENGER, b. ca 1847 Athens Co., Ohio

6.    Charles BALLENGER Jr., b. 8 November 1849 Athens Co., d.19 June 1935 Delaware Co., Ohio

7.    Caroline BALLENGER, b. 10 Aug 1852 Athens Co., married Edward Williams, d.17 April 1926 Delaware Co., Ohio

8.    James M. BALLENGER, b. 19 January 1855 Athens Co., d. 8 March 1913 Delaware Co., Ohio

       Great-Great-Grandparents

James Madison BALLENGER, born 19 January 1855 in Athens Co., Ohio, moved to Delaware Co. by 1880, where he died 8 March 1913. On 19 January 1881 in Delaware Co., Ohio, he married:

Anna M. PAYNE, born 3 May 1864 in Ohio, died 20 November 1924 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio. They had 4 children:

1.    Charles C. BALLENGER, b. 15 July 1882 Delaware Co., d. 7 January 1953 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio

2.    Clarence BALLENGER, b. August 1888 Delaware Co., d. 18 April 1954 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio

3.    Cyril BALLENGER, b. 6 July 1896 (twin) Delaware Co., d. 26 August 1944 Bexley, Franklin Co., Ohio

4.    Cecil BALLENGER, b. 6 July 1896 (twin), married Charles Parker, d. 22 May 1993 Westerville, Franklin Co., Ohio

           Great-Grandparents

Charles Cleveland BALLENGER, born 15 July 1882 Delaware Co., died 7 January 1953 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio. On 12 December 1906 in Delaware Co., Ohio, he married:

Irene Pearl CLARK, born 28 November 1887 in Delaware Co., died 21October 1965 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio. They had 4 children:

1.    Florence N. BALLENGER, b. 3 December 1907 Delaware Co., married Gordon Meeks, d. 14 April 2000 Franklin Co., Ohio

2.    Unnamed female infant, b. and d. 27 December 1908 in Franklin Co., Ohio

3.    Lloyd Russell BALLENGER, b. 3 May 1911 in Westerville, Franklin Co., married Nora EBERHARD on 30 March 1935 in Kentucky, d. 4 June 2002 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio

4.    Dwight “Smokey” BALLENGER, b. 27 April 1916 in Westerville, Franklin Co., d. 20 January 1990 in Westerville, Franklin Co., Ohio

I would love to connect with others researching the Ballenger family, particularly anyone who knows or suspects who the parents of Charles, James, and/or William Ballenger (all born in Virginia between 1815-1820) might be. You can leave a comment below or email me directly at sbishop@asenseoffamily.com. I’d be happy to share the information I’ve collected!

Related Posts:
Lloyd Ballenger's first restaurant - Labor Day
This is the Face of Genealogy
Anna Payne Ballenger

James Ballenger Suddenly Stricken--Sunday's Obituary