George K. Hess, Sr. (1891-1969) and Henrietta Spruhan Hess (1894-1984), a family photo collection
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Henry Joseph Spruhan 1857-1939. My great grandfather.
HERE IS HOW I AM RELATED
Henry Joseph Spruhan (1857 – 1939)great-grandfather Henrietta Spruhan (1894 – 1984) grandmother daughter of Henry Joseph Spruhan Robert Lawrence Hess (1924 – 2017)father son of Henrietta Spruhan Linda Claire Hess (1954-) I am the daughter of Robert Lawrence HessHIS FATHER DIED
At 12 years old Henry Denny Spruhan (he would later change his middle name to Joseph) was an orphan. According to the notes of a Spruhan family genealogist, Lydia Spruhan, Henry was taken in by the VanCleave Family of Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana. Henry’s parents had both immigrated from Ireland and Mrs. VanCleave who took him in had also been born in Ireland, while her husband had been born in Indiana.
Henry was born 3 November 1857 in Crawfordsville, Indiana. His mother was Margaret Denny from Kilkenny, Ireland. She died early. I am unable to trace her records. His father, Garret Spruhan, had been born ABT. 1825 also in Kilkenny.
After Henry’s father died, his father remarried, but had no children from his second marriage.
Both of Henry’s parents were Catholic and baptized their children in Crawfordsville at the Catholic church there. Henry was one of 5 children born to Garret and Margaret.
Sadly, Henry and his siblings would go to separate homes after the death of their father. Only Macie, the youngest, would remain on the farm with her step-mother. Such a heart breaking experience for anyone, especially a boy of only 12. Apparently, Henry and an older brother each received an inheritance of real estate valued at $360.00. The exact details of this inheritance are still unknown and many have questioned how it came about. It is presumed that it was from his father and a step-mother, Ann McKerrit Spruhan. The farm, after all, had been successful and must have had the means to provide such an inheritance.
HENRY’S FATHER- GARRET SPRUHAN
The Spruhan families had been in Ireland for many 100’s of years. Burials of the Spruhan family had taken place in the area of the Ancient Celtic Kings, near the Black River in Kilkenny, Ireland.
Henry’s father, Garret Spruhan, had arrived in America in 1839, long before Henry was born. Before coming to America, Garret had been a farmer in Kilkenny, Ireland. Tax records for Indiana show that he operated a successful farm in the states.
Once Garret (Henry’s father) arrived in America, the railroads, would later allow him to move west and settle in Indiana.
Garret married Henry’s mother in 1852. They were wed in Hamilton County in the state of Ohio. The marriage was presided by the Arch Bishop.
HENRY’S LIFE (this section of my blog is what I learned about Henry from my father Robert L. Hess)
Henry was my great grandfather –the father of my paternal grandmother Henrietta Spruhan Hess.
I have only minor memories of discussing Henry with my father. My father told that Henry had worked as a broker in the stock market. (Of course, the stock market would crash in 1929.) Recently, I felt curious about Henry, a Great Grandfather that I never heard much about. Now, I am older and have time to begin to trace his story. In the end, after many hours of research, I have more questions than answers.
My father once told me that my Grandmother, Henrietta Spruhan, contracted polio and blamed her parents for that. Her parents (Henry was her father) had been taken her to a hospital to visit a sick relative. It was soon after this visit that Henrietta contracted polio and she thought her parents should not have put her in this position. She would carry some of the hardship of this disease and some resentments through the rest of her life. (It is only recently that I have wondered how this story played out from the perspective of her father Henry. How had he suffered from guilt and pain while worrying about a daughter with a terrible disease?)
My father also told me that Henrietta had a privileged childhood. Her father, Henry Josesph Spruhan, had been successful in his career as stock broker. Henrietta, was a true socialite! This was both good and bad. Of course it was nice that she had a wonderful education and opportunities to learn and excel at playing the piano, etc. She was a college graduate. Census records even indicate that they had live-in help. On the other hand, my grandmother’s life would be VERY difficult when she had to transition from socialite to living on a farm – an apple orchard in Michigan later in her life. But, that is a different story.
HENRY’S LIFE continued…
Although Henry would begin life in Crawfordsville, Indiana, he would go on to live in New York and Chicago for much of his adult life.
I do not have any answers for that time between his being taken in by a local family, to the time of his rise professionally in the world of finance. He was successful in his own right, but he married into a very rich and educated family. Henry’s wife was Caroline “Carrie” Baur. Carrie was the daughter of John Jacob Baur who had run a large retail drug pharmacy. Carrie’s brother would work in the family pharmacy and go on to be the perfecter of liquid carbon acid (carbonation). There are MANY historical accounts of the Baur family.
Henry’s wife Carrie was born in
One of the first records that I reviewed to gather information were the 1860 census. In this census, Henry is 2 years old. I am not sure why, but his name in this census is listed as “William Henry”. His parents both list place of birth as Ireland. All of the children were born in Indiana.
Here, in the photo of the 1870 census , you can see that Henry has been taken in by the VanCleave family. Henry is 12 years old.
In the 1880 census he is a boarder and keeps books in the R.R. office – Perry Township, City of Colfax, Indiana. He is 22 years old.
In an 1887 Terre Haute, Indiana Directory the listing states: Spruhan, Henry J clk (clerk?) McKeen and Co., res. 620 Deming
In an 1899 news article in the Chicago Tribune, it looks like Henry is part of a fancy reception. (Note: I often see his name in print as “H. J. Spruhan”, once I figured this out, it was easier to find matching articles!
The next information is from the 1900 census from Cook County Chicago. Henry is 42 years old. He says both his parents were born in Ireland. He is a broker. He lists his birthday as 1858. Henry’s wife Carrie says her father is from Switzerland and her mother from Germany. Carrie’s birth is October 1863. In addition to their children, Garret, Henrietta and Josephine, there is also living an 18 year old female servant born in September of 1881.
Here is an article from 1902: Henry J. Spruhan from Chicago, IL 10 Jan 1902
In a New York city directory from 1903, the listing is as printed under Manhattan and Bronx Brokers, NY, NY Spruhan, Henry J. 60 Bway (Broadway?) In the 1906 New York city directory, the listing as just the same as 1903.
Henry and his family are listed in the New York 1905 census.
1910 census from Hoboken, NJ. He is now 51 years old. His wife Carrie is 44 years old. She states she has had 4 births and 3 now living. He now says name is Henry J. Spruhan and his father was born in Ireland and his mother in Scotland? Occupation is broker. Carrie states her place of birth is Kentucky (not what I have in her records) and her father’s birth was in Switzerland and her mother from Germany. Garret D. is now 18 and living with them. He says his father’s birth was in Indiana and his mother’s birth was Kentucky. Looks like they lived at 606 River Street. Also listed are Henrietta, age 16 and Josephine, age 9.
In the 1920 census from Cook County, Chicago, IL., Henry and his family is on 5542 West Adams Street (rented) He is now 60 years old. His occupation is listed as a salesman for a Hardware company. Carrie is 47 years old. Henrietta (my grandmother) is 26 and living with them and has an occupation as operator of a Dictaphone at a hardware company. Josephine their youngest daughter is 19 years old and a University student.
In a 1922 Oak Park Directory Spruhan, Henry J (Carrie B) com trav. Residence at 107 S. Maple Ave.
In a 1923 Oak Park Directory Spruhan, Henry J (Carrie B) salesman. Residence at 107 S. Maple Ave.
Here is a news ad from 1926: Spruhan 14 Nov. 1926 Chicago Tribune for sale
In a 1930 Oak Park Directory Spruhan, Henry J (Carrie B) real estate, 108 S. Harlem, Residence at 107 S. Maple Ave.
Here are NEW items to add to this story…
Below…from Kansas City Gazette in 26 January 1914
From 12 December 1909, The Washington Post…see below
Here are some handwritten notes from my father Robert Lawrence Hess about his grandfather:
Emilie Wisthoff Krueger (known as Amelia Grayer) 1861-1955. My Great Grandma Grayer.
A family story of my Great Grandmother – Amelia Wisthoff Grayer 1861 – 1955
My great grandmother was born as Emilie Wisthoff. She married my great grandfather in Washtenaw County, MI when she was only 15 years old! We were told that my great grandfather’s name was August Grayer. He was 29 when he married his 15 year old bride.
I was told by my mother that at some point the Krueger family changed their name to Grayer. My great grandfather was born with the last name of Krueger. At the time they were married, in February of 1877, he was still using the name of Krueger.
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My great grandmother was born with the name of Emilie Wisthoff. Her first name would eventually become Amelia. During this blog, I will refer to her as Amelia.
In 1871—a child of only ten years old—she was on her way to America. Amelia Wisthoff was leaving Prussia while the rest of her family remained behind for a time. She traveled under the care of a wealthy family who took her along so that she could serve as a playmate and companion to their daughter. From what I understand, this family was kind and generous to Amelia and allowed her to be educated alongside their own child.
I have been unable to locate any ship records bearing Amelia’s name, nor do I know the identity of the family who sponsored her passage. When I was younger, I took a few handwritten notes while talking with my mother about our family history. From those conversations, I was told that Amelia came to America on a steam vessel. At present, the only verification I have for this story comes from my mother’s recollection and from the fact that Amelia’s arrival in America clearly predates the arrival of the rest of her family.
It was not until 1906 that the United States required women—daughters and wives—to petition independently for citizenship. Prior to that, women held the legal status of their father or husband. Because Amelia arrived many years before 1906, researching her immigration has proven especially difficult. There is no citizenship packet or formal documentation for her, as none was required at the time, nor would it have been possible for a woman to complete such paperwork.
As a result, the most reliable way to estimate Amelia’s immigration date is through U.S. census records. In the 1880 and 1900 censuses, she lists her place of birth as Prussia. By the 1910 census, however, she identifies her birthplace as Germany rather than Prussia. This shift is easily explained by the frequent changes in national borders during that period. My mother told me that Amelia came from an area near Berlin, which aligns with this historical context.
Here is a map from Prussia in 1871: (source is lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical)
Amelia Wisthoff Grayer, was my maternal great grandmother. I was one year old at the time of her death in 1955. I am fortunate to have photographs of her and my great grandfather, August Grayer.
I am also fortunate to have photographs of myself with my great grandmother.
Our family called this strong and lovely woman “Grandma Grayer”. She lived a long full life. My mother was close to her grandmother and would spend much of her childhood living with and even sharing a bedroom with Grandma Grayer.
Grandma Grayer was still a child – age 15 – when she married our 29 year old great grandfather in Washtenaw County, MI.
It is very confusing that our great grandparents Grandma Grayer and August Grayer had originally been known by the last name Krueger. They used this name when they were married. I am so glad that my mother explained to me that the family had changed their name from Krueger to Grayer – otherwise I would not have believed the ancestry results. August was born in Württemberg Germany.
In her adult life, Grandma Grayer spent much of her time doing amazing crocheting and tatting. My sister, Mary Ann, carries on the tradition of advanced crochet skills and has made heirloom blankets, snow flake art pieces, and lovely hats – all with a great sense of color and style. It is nice to know this tradition carries on in our family- a special type of legacy.
But, now, back to 1871. Grandma Grayer had started the voyage to the U.S.A. as a 10 year old. The destination would eventually lead her to Ann Arbor, MI. Ann Arbor had a large German settlement. It seems that about 75% of the Germans who came to Washtenaw County were from Württemberg. My mother had told me that Grandma Grayer had come from a place near to Berlin. I do not have any documents that support her German city of origin.
Grandma Grayer’s parents would follow Amelia within a year, arriving stateside in 1872. My family called her parents (my great great grandparents) “Grandfather Wisthoff” and “Little Grandma”. They were William Wisthoff and Ernestine (or Ernestina) Nevroth. We also have family photographs of these great great grandparents.
Grandmother Grayer was one of 4 girls and had 3 younger sisters.
The 2nd in the birth order of the girls and Grandma Grayer’s sister was Hulda Grayer. At the age of 19, Hulda married Adolph Kern in Washtenaw County. In the 1910 census, Hulda and Adolph live at 717 N. Main Street. Adolph worked in a flouring mill as a miller. Hulda stayed at home and worked as a seamstress. Huldah’s 1927 death certificate gives her address as 926 Catherine Street, Ann Arbor.
The 3rd sister in the birth order was Emma Grayer who arrived in America at the age of 5. Emma would marry Fred William Ehrenberg who was a blacksmith and owned his own shop. They lived at 170 Pontiac Road, Salem Township, MI. Emma died in 1936 when my mother was only 11 years old. I do have a copy of her death certificate that states she died from apoplexy with a contributing factor of high blood pressure.
The youngest of the girls was A. Ernestina Grayer. She would marry William Carl Scherdt. William was a woodworker who worked at Ann Arbor Machine Company. In a government form he completed he states that he is unable to serve in the service because he lost his right leg to his knee. He also states that they reside at 302 N. Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI.
Now, let’s travel 5 years forward from Grandma Grayer’s arrival in the states. The next part of the story seems VERY strange from our 2018 perspective, but was more common in 1877. You see, Grandma Grayer was only 15 years old on February 1st, 1877, when she married August Grayer who was 29 years old.
They had their first son Herman Grayer (my great uncle) on October 29, 1877. At the time of Herman’s birth, Grandma Grayer was only 16 years old!
The wedding records for Grandma Grayer and August Grayer list his name as August Frederick Kreuger. My mother told me a story about the Kreuger/ Grayer name story, but I was very young and do not recall all of the details. I do remember that there was some sort of divide and conflict in the Kreuger family and some of the folks including my great grandfather changed their last name to Grayer. I am so lucky that I took notes of this discussion. It is funny for me to look at my hand-writing from my days as a young teen. I recognize it as my junior high/high school penmanship.
I do not know if Grandma Grayer’s marriage was arranged. August was known to be a hard working farmer. He spent most of his time farming in Scio Township, MI but retired 8 years prior to his death and then lived at 404 N. Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, MI. This is more exact information on his place of birth: Hammer-Sandkrug, Posen Province, Prussia. He arrived in America when he was approximately 15 years old.
In 1879, Grandma Grayer was 17 years old. She had a new sister born the same year that she gave birth to her second child, a girl. Grandma Grayer’s second child was Whilimina L. “Minnie” Grayer was born on 23 April 1879. This was our “Aunt Minnie.” She married Frederick Gross. He was a merchant and first operated a store at 115 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI and then at 309 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI.
In the 1880 census, records indicate that Grandma Grayer and her husband August Grayer are living with their son Herman, and their daughter “Louise” (I believe that Louise is Great Aunt Minnie’s second name.) August’s 23 year old brother Fred Grayer is also living with them at the time of the census. (note: they also lived just 2 houses away from Grandma Grayer’s parents- The Wisthoff’s.) Some of Grandma Grayer’s sisters are younger than her own son Herman Grayer!
In 1880, there was a U.S. census taken. August is now 34 years old, and Grandma Grayer is 21 years old. August’s occupation was as a farmer and he states that his birth place and the birth place of his parents was Prussia. Grandma Grayer also lists her birth place and her parent’s birth place as Prussia. In this census year, Grandma Grayer’s father, William Wisthoff, was only 46. (Remember that Grandma Grayer was considerably younger than her husband which explains why William and August’s ages are so close together.)
Sometime after the census report was taken, Grandma Grayer had her 3rd child in 1880. This was her daughter Huldah Amelia Grayer born 26 November 1880 in Scio Township, Washtenaw County, MI. Huldah was obviously given her name as a namesake to Grandmother Grayer’s sister Huldah. This newest daughter of Grandma Grayer’s is our “Aunt Hud.”
The fashion of re-naming seems to run strongly in our family. Grandma Grayer herself was an Amelia (originally Emilie) and then named her daughter, my grandmother, Amelia (this was Grandma Pet.) I named my daughter Amy, a derivative of the name Amelia, and a name that is so beautiful to me and means, dearly loved, or beloved.
In 1882, Grandma Grayer was only 21 years old. She had her 4th child at this time, a son, Ernest August Grayer, born on 22 October 1882. Ernest would later move out of state to Washington. He married Tessie Viola Nienkirk. For some funny reason, I remember my mother saying these words as I scribbled them on a back of a photograph of him, “He left, and never came back.”
On 14 September 1885, Grandma Grayer gave birth to my “Grandmother Pet” who was Amelia Grayer. This was a truly beloved Grandmother. When I became a grandmother myself in 2012, I asked to be also called “Grandma Pet” as a tribute to this woman who was for me a form of truest love. I will write a blog on my Grandmother soon. She married Grover Cleveland Ream, a carpenter, in Ann Arbor.
In 1888, Grandma Grayer had a daughter Adelaide Amanda Grayer. She would marry Frederick Miller.
In 1897, Grandma Grayer’s father, William Wisthoff, died of consumption.
The youngest of Grandma Grayer’s children was “Aunt Babe.” This was Helen Mae Grayer born on May 20, 1890. She married Walter Mayer.
In the census of 1900, we see that Grandma Grayer confirms her entry date from Prussia as 1871. Her husband, August Grayer, who was by then a naturalized citizen, had immigrated in here in 1864. Because he is a citizen she would automatically have had that status also. August came from Hammer-Sandkrug, Posen Province, Prussia.
In 1908, there is a posting in the newspaper for the sale of August and Grandma Grayer’s 63 acre farm, 5 miles north of Ann Arbor.
By the census year 1910 under the name Wisthoff, we see that Grandma Grayer’s mother “Little Grandma” Ernestine Nevroth Wisthoff had stated that she immigrated in 1872 which is a year after Grandma Grayer arrived here in the states. This census also shows that Ernestine (Grandma Grayer’s mother) is living in Ann Arbor at 602 Goth Street (probably Gott Street that was misspelled). “Little Grandma” is living there with Grandma Grayer’s sister, A. Ernestine Grayer Scherdt and her son-in-law, William Carl Scherdt. “Little Grandma” lists her occupation as nurse. Her son-in-law, William’s occupation is ladder maker.
I also remember that my Grandma Grayer was a nurse. I think at this time in history, it might have been a learned skill rather than something obtained by years of education. Her mother was a nurse, and she might well have studied under her mother.
Also in the 1910 census, the birth location for Grandma Grayer and August Grayer has changed from Prussia to Germany. Grandma Grayer is now 49 years old and August is 61 years old.
In May of 1912, the paper announces that August Grayer and Grandma Grayer’s new home is almost ready to be moved in to. This will be the house at 404 N. Ashley, Ann Arbor, MI.
1917 must have been a very difficult year for Grandma Grayer. In July of that year, her mother (“Little Grandma”) passed away and then one month later in August, her husband August Grayer passed away too. By now Grandma Grayer is already 55 years of age.
Grandma Grayer re-married in 1920 and the marriage was brief, lasting only a few years. I believe it ended in divorce. She married Edward Osiander. He was employed at the time as a foreman at the Hoover Ball Plant. He had a previous divorce from a wife also named Amelia. My mother said this marriage was not talked about much in her presence.
In 1930, Grandma Grayer is living as the head of household at 404 N. Ashley and has 2 boarders. By this time, my mother, Gretchen Ream, who was a girl of 5 in 1930 was living at 520 N. Main Street, only a short walk to see her grandmother! My mother would lose her father in 1931. I do not know at what point Grandma Grayer came to live with Grandma Pet, my mother Gretchen Hess and my uncle Robert Ream on North Main Street, but my mother often recounted living with her Grandmother from childhood thru young adulthood. My guess is that she moved to North Main after Grover’s death, although it does look like she spent some time also at Uncle Herman’s house- just a block or so away.
The home on 520 N. Main was a house for lodgers. This was the livelihood of Grandma Pet (Amelia Grayer Ream.) The house was only a short walk to the downtown district and the University of Michigan.
Although Grandma Grayer lost part of her vision as she aged, I believe that at her time of death at age 93, she was living a full life. Photos of her at this age still show her with a crochet project in her hands.
Here are some of the addresses I have traced from Ann Arbor city directories for Grandma Grayer:
1910 Grayer, August (Amelia), lab, res. 400 Ashley N., Ann Arbor, MI – (So, just guessing that the lab means they are probably leasing this house. The home they were building at 404 N. Ashley, Ann Arbor, MI was not ready until 1912.)
1911 Grayer, August (Amelia), lab George Bischoff, res. 400 Ashley N., Ann Arbor, MI
1914 Grayer, August (Amelia), fireman George Bischoff, res. 404 N. Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, MI
1916 Grayer, August F. (Amelia) res. 404 N. Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, MI
1918 Grayer, Amelia (wid. August) res. 404 N. Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, MI
1920 Grayer, Amelia (wid. August) res. 404 N. Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, MI
1923 Osiander, Edward (Amelia) h. 404 N. Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, MI
1927 Grayer, Amelia (wid. August) res. 404 N. Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, MI (Mom was only 2 years old. N. Ashley Street was an easy few blocks from where Mom lived on N. Main.)
1938 Grayer, Amelia L. res. 502 N. Main, Ann Arbor, MI (so this means she is living in Uncle Herman’s home)
1939 Grayer, Amelia L. (wid. August) 520 N. Main, Ann Arbor, MI MI (so this means she is living in Grandma Pet’s home)
1945 Grayer, Amelia L. (wid. August) 520 N. Main, Ann Arbor,
Children of Grandma Grayer residences:
Herman:
1910 Grayer, Herman W. (Dell), steamfitter U of M, res. 502 N. Main, Ann Arbor, MI
1911 Grayer, Herman W. (Dell), fireman U of M, res. 502 N. Main, Ann Arbor, MI
1916 Grayer, Herman W. (Dell) h. 502 N. Main, Ann Arbor, MI – engineer
1927, Grayer, Herman W. (Luella D.) 502 N. Main, Ann Arbor, MI – power plant at U. of M.
1938 Grayer, Herman (Luella D.) 502 N. Main, Ann Arbor, MI – eng., U of M building and grounds dept.
1939 Grayer, Herman (Luella) h. 502 N. Main, Ann Arbor, MI
1945 Grayer, Herman (Luella) h. 502 N. Main, Ann Arbor, MI – eng. U of M
Minnie:
1904 Gross, Frederick W. (Minnie L.) clerk Jacob Lutz, Ren. 320 E. Madison
1937 Gross, Fred W. (Minnie L.) Fine tailoring, Woolens Direct from the looms, tested by the Better Business Bureau 401 First National Building, h 102 Crest, Ann Arbor, MI
Hulda:
1900 Grayer, Huldah, domestic 331 E. Liberty
1906 from a Detroit Directory– Grayer, Huldah, machine operator, rooms at 75 Church, Detroit, MI
Helen:
1910 Grayer, Helen, seamstress for Mack & Co., bds. at 400 Ashley North, Ann Arbor. (So this is the same house # and street name as Grandma Grayer’s- see above)
1911 Grayer, Helen, seamstress for Mack & Co., bds. at 400 Ashley North, Ann Arbor.
Grandma Pet (Amelia):
1900 (from the census records) There is a notation that Ernest Grayer (age 18) and Amelia Grayer (Grandma Pet, age 14) are living with Foster and Martha Brown in Ann Arbor Township. Ernest is a farmhand and Amelia (Grandma Pet) is a domestic.
1904 Grayer, Amelia, domestic, 509 E. Jefferson, Ann Arbor, MI
1906 Grayer, Amelia, 212 12th Ann Arbor, MI
1910 Grayer, Amelia, domestic 314 Huron E., Ann Arbor, MI
1911 Grayer, Amelia, domestic 314 Huron E., Ann Arbor, MI
1923 Ream, Grover C. (Amelia A.) contractor, 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI h same
1924 Ream, Grover C. (Amelia) contractor carpenter, 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI
1930 Ream, Grover (Amelia A.) building contractor, 547 S. 4th Ave. h do
For more photos of the Grayer and Ream family…visit my Google photo album: https://goo.gl/photos/NzDjP4obCYqhURhS6
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George “Eugene” Heald, 1844-1930. The 4th great grandfather of my grandson.
I have spent quite a bit of time trying to find ancestry documents on the 4th great grandfather of my grandson. His name was George Eugene Heald, but he used his middle name “Eugene.”
Eugene was born on August 27, 1844, in Antwerp, Jefferson County, New York. His father, Nathan, was 29 and his mother, Adelia (Hoard) Heald, was 25 at the time of his birth.
Eugene was 21 years old when he married Agnes Hitt (the 4th great grandmother of my grandson). They had seven children together. It was their first born, Frances “Fannie” Adelia Heald, who would continue on my grandson’s direct ancestry.
The picture below is of Eugene’s 1st wife, Agnes Hitt Heald.
Later, Eugene would marry again to Angeline “Angie” Berriault. There were no children as a result of the 2nd marriage.
In a 1928 news article, Eugene is an elderly man and reflects and describes himself, “I am a regular down east Yankee.” He was describing the place of his birth and his origins. This wonderful news article from 20 August 1928, Green Bay Press-Gazette, gave me much of my information about Eugene. Here we find out that his father was part of the gold rush to California in 1848.” This made Eugene’s father absent for some time during Eugene’s early childhood. After his family moved to Missouri for a period of 4 years, they finally moved to Clay Banks, Wisconsin.
One way to piece together part of Eugene’s life is to study the U.S. Census records. In 1870 (age 25), he is living with his wife Agnes in New York and is employed as a teamster. The only children listed on this census record are Fannie (my grandson’s 3rd great grandmother) and Hattie. Sadly, Hattie died young. See news article:
In the 1870 census, Eugene is living in Clay Banks, Door County, Wisconsin. In the 1880 census, Eugene describes his occupation as a farmer. By the time of the 1900 census, he is married to his 2nd wife, Angeline. His first wife Agnes had died the year earlier in 1899.
Eugene was a soldier in the Civil War, but I have not found military records at this point.
News clipping below is from 20 May 1926 – Green Bay Press Gazette.
He died on August 10, 1930, in Algoma, Wisconsin, at the age of 85, and was buried in Door, Wisconsin. The tombstone marker lists his name, his first wife Agnes, their young child Hattie who died when she was only 2 years old, and also listed is his second wife.
Here is the order of descendency from Eugene to my son-in-law (the 3rd great grandson of Eugene Heald).
George “Eugene” HEALD (1844 – 1930)
3rd great-grandfather of son-in-law
3rd great-grandfather of son-in-law
Frances “Fannie” Adelia Heald (1867 – 1937)
daughter of George “Eugene” HEALD
daughter of George “Eugene” HEALD
Zebina Eugene Shaw (1888 – 1939)
son of Frances “Fannie” Adelia Heald
son of Frances “Fannie” Adelia Heald
Joyce Lucille Shaw (1922 – 1990)
daughter of Zebina Eugene Shaw
daughter of Zebina Eugene Shaw
Eugene Norbert Wiesner (1944 – 2012)
son of Joyce Lucille Shaw
son of Joyce Lucille Shaw
Andrew Jacob Wiesner (1974 – )
son of Eugene Norbert Wiesner
son of Eugene Norbert Wiesner
Grandma’s memories (Gretchen Lois Ream Hess) 1925-2006
Gretchen’s Memories:
What are some things you’d like your grandchildren to know about you and your life?
One of the first things that I remember is being ill with diphtheria and watching for the doctor, who made a daily visit. I was about four. I’d watch for him out the window.
We were staying in a rented house while my dad was building a new house for us. This was in Ann Arbor. I was scared about the doctor because he gave me big shots in the back.
I remember when we were in the tenant house, watching the fire engines go by and I would hide under the bed because the noise scared me. Red trucks, like today.
Before I recovered from diphtheria, I was playing bogeyman and had a dishtowel over my head. I was going to scare my Dad and Mother and I ran into a rather hot wood burning stove and burned my hand rather badly. That put an end to playing bogeyman.
I remember going to Bethlehem church for Sunday school, which was just 1/2 a block from my house. My brother would walk me to Sunday school. My brother would call me a “circus pony,” because my mother insisted that I wear a big hair bow. And he insisted I looked like a circus horse. He was eight years older than me.
He would tease me a lot. But if my mother went to punish me, and I made a wailing noise (fake crying), then he’d say “Please, don’t punish her, punish me!” He was confirmed at Bethlehem Church on the day of our father’s funeral. I was just five when my father died.
After my father passed away, we later stayed at my grandmother’s house. And I remember being afraid to be put to bed before the others, because the bedroom was on the 2nd floor and I was used to one on the main floor. But my brother had his own room, and I thought he was very brave to go to bed himself. I shared a room with my grandmother and my mother.
My grandmother was the mother of seven!/eight? children, Herman, Ernest, Minnie, Hulda, Adelaide, Amelia (my mother) and Helen and _____ ?
Dr. Hess asked me to find out from Mrs. Hess about her ancestor who was the first to come from Germany to the US. Was it Granmother Greyer (sp?), or her mother? The story that Dr. Hess has heard is that a man came over first, and then his wife or betrothed came over afterwards. This was was, as a child, the chosen companion of some member of a royal family, perhaps a duke. (The royal family chose a child to be a companion to their child. Not an adoption, bu the companion child received the same education, played with the royal child, etc. Hence, Dr. Hess notes, the ancestors who came
Mary Ann Higbee Hess, 1813-1874 – my 2nd great grandmother (A story of a Michigan pioneer woman and mother of 12!)
The Hess/Higbee genealogy is well documented. You can read the book Hess-Higbee Genealogy compiled by W. Emerson Babcock here:
https://archive.org/details/hesshigbeegeneal00lcbabc
When Mary Ann Higbee (my 2nd great grandmother) was born in Crawford, Ohio on December 12, 1813, her father, James, was 33, and her mother, Mary Fenton Higbee, was 31.
Mary Ann married George Waltour Hess on April 21, 1836 in Anapolis, Ohio. They had 12 children in 20 years. She died on March 24, 1874, in Michigan at the age of 60, and was buried in Berrien, Michigan.
In W. Emerson Babcock’s genealogy compilation, it is recounted that this young married couple “pressed the frontier” and made their way to Berrien County, Michigan. The book (see page 22) then continues to describe the obstacles on their pioneer journey including the need for them to abandon their wagon when they were mid-stream in the St. Joseph River. They mounted themselves on the horses and continued on their way through the forest trails of the Native Americans until they find Mary Ann’ parents who had gone before them to establish a dwelling. Mary Ann and George’s westward journey had taken them through Chicago towards St. Joseph, MI. They were literally traveling through marsh lands. See here the documentation in A twentieth century history of Berrien County, MI Chapter XXVI. HagarCounty. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/16860/dvm_LocHist004592-00674-1?pid=1084&backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2f%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3findiv%3d1%26db%3dGenealogy-glh19225593%26h%3d1084&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true#?imageId=dvm_LocHist004592-00674-1
Mary Ann’s husband George was by nature a carpenter and also being of German descent, was able to speak and interpret German. He served as a justice of the peace in the area and was “an old school Democrat.” In looking over the news paper clipping below, it is obvious that there was a wave of immigration directly from Germany to Berrien starting in 1840.
In historical accounts it is mentioned that George was “neat in appearance” and was able to do logging without getting his clothing “dirty.” Wow- a super great life skill! All kidding aside, it does seem that he was considered a respectable and kind man and community leader. I never heard stories from my family about Mary Ann or George, so all of my knowledge has come from searching Ancestry and the web and of course the entire Hess-Higbee compilation by Babcock.
Find a Grave photo of Mary Ann’s tombstone is here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95816610/mary-a-hess
Here is my connection to Mary Ann Higbee Hess
Mary Ann Higbee (1813 – 1874)
2nd great-grandmother
2nd great-grandmother
Juan James Hess (1850 – 1929)
son of Mary Ann Higbee
son of Mary Ann Higbee
George Kellogg 
Hess Sr. (1891 – 1969)
son of Juan James Hess
Hess Sr. (1891 – 1969)son of Juan James Hess
Linda Claire Hess
You are the daughter of Robert Lawrence Hess
You are the daughter of Robert Lawrence Hess
Knight Sprague 1711-1804, my 6th Great Grandfather. A “minute-man.”
Sometimes, when you delve into a previously unknown story about one of your ancestors you end up with as many questions as answers! The circumstances of this ancestor’s location in Massachusetts and his birth year place him in a time era and context for becoming an American patriot. As I “unpack” the stories about Knight, I have come up with so many questions. Questions about the start of this nation, various battles that ensued and time period historical events. What role did Knight have in the formation of America? As a soldier of his times, what had he seen in battle? Where is his historical accounting of the 1757 siege that will be referenced in the quotes below?
For now we begin at the start of Knight Sprague Sr.’s story. He was born on October 12, 1711, in Hingham, Massachusetts. His father, Jeremiah, was 29 and his mother, Priscilla, was 25. Knight’s namesake was his mother’s maiden name. She had been born as Priscilla Knight.
Knight married Mary Lewis and they had six children together. He then married Mary Beal and they had five children together. He died in 1804 at the impressive age of 93.
Knight served in the Minute Men as an American revolutionary patriot. He was also involved in 1757 in trying to defend the British held Fort William Henry from a French siege. This particular event is the subject of the book “The Last of the Mohicans” by James Fenimore Cooper. Fort William Henry was located at the southern end of Lake George, and Fort Edward on the Hudson River. The French troops in concert with nearly 2,000 Native Americans from various tribes caused the British troops holding the fort to surrender their control and occupation of the fort. The defeated British troops were to be escorted out of the fort and taken as prisoners. Instead, as the British were leaving the fort they were killed by the Native American forces in what is historically termed a massacre. Knight, obviously, was a survivor.
I found out more about my 6th great grandfather because of documentation in American Biography, A New Cyclopedia https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=EmYUAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PA86
“Knight Sprague, son of Jeremiah and Priscilla (Knight) Sprague, was born October 12, 1711, at Hingham, and died at Spencer, Massachusetts, in 1804, aged ninety-three years. He lived at Hingham until 1760, when he sold the old place and removed to that part Old Leicester that is now Spencer. He was a private in Captain Ebenezer Mason’s company of Minute-men, of Colonel Jonathan Warner’s regiment, which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775, and served five days. This was not his first military service, for when he was but sixteen, he was a soldier in Colonel Benjamin Lincoln’s regiment and barely escaped with his life at the time of the Indian massacre at the surrender of Fort William Henry in August, 1757. He afterwards wrote a vivid description of the horrible incident, which has been preserved for us. The next year he participated in the attack upon Fort Frontinac, under Colonel Bradstreet, when that fortress was captured. Knight Sprague married (first), at Hingham, May 26, 1735, Mary Lewis, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Marsh) Lewis, by whom he had six children, as follows : Mary, born May 27, 1736; Sarah, born April 1, 1738; Knight, born March 25, 1740; Anthony, born June 29, 1742; Olive, born June 24, 1744; Thomas, born July 28, 1746. He married (second) Mary Beal, daughter of David and Rebecca (Stodder) Beal, of Hingham, where she was born December 21, 1717. The wedding took place at Boston, October 23, 1747. The children of this union were as follows: Asa, baptized July 24, 1748; James, mentioned below; Thomas, baptized April 26, 1752; Caleb, baptized July 20, 1755; Lucy, baptized October 4, 1761 ; David, baptized January 8, 1764.”
I have been unable to find the above referenced account written by Knight Sprague regarding the Indian massacre at Fort William Henry. But here is another link to information about Knight Sprague and the attack of Fort William Henry:
A general history of the attack at Fort William Henry may be found here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Fort_William_Henry
At first I was confused by the quote below that makes reference to Knight being a mere 16 years old while serving as a soldier in Colonel Benjamin Lincoln’s regiment AND barely escaping from the massacre at Fort William Henry in 1757. Obviously, these are 2 facts being referenced in a strange sentence structure. Because with a birth year of 1711, Knight would have been 46 years old during the siege on Fort William Henry and then must have been 16 while serving as a soldier in Benjamin Lincoln’s patriot regiment.
In an application made by another descendant of Knight (some very distant cousin of mine) who wanted to be in the Sons of the Revolution based on his ancestor Knight – I have provided this information: (see photos)
Here is the how I relate to my ancestor:
Knight SPRAGUE Sr (Rev War) Sr (1711 – 1804)
6th great-grandfather
6th great-grandfather
Anthony Sprague (1742 – 1831) (Note: Anthony Sprague is son of Knight and his 1st wife Mary Lewis.)
son of Knight SPRAGUE Sr (Rev War) Sr
son of Knight SPRAGUE Sr (Rev War) Sr
Anthony Sprague Jr (1766 – 1850)
son of Anthony SPRAGUE
son of Anthony SPRAGUE
Mary “Polly” Sprague (1792 – 1852)
daughter of Anthony Sprague Jr
daughter of Anthony Sprague Jr
John Kellogg Bishop (1827 – 1906)
son of Mary “Polly” Sprague
son of Mary “Polly” Sprague
Dorothy (Dora) Bishop (1857 – 1904)
daughter of John Kellogg Bishop
daughter of John Kellogg Bishop
George Kellogg Hess Sr. (1891 – 1969)
son of Dorothy (Dora) Bishop
Hess Sr. (1891 – 1969)son of Dorothy (Dora) Bishop
Linda Claire Hess
You are the daughter of Robert Lawrence Hess
You are the daughter of Robert Lawrence Hess
Sources also include: Memorial of the Sprague fam, with fam, gen. By Rich. Soule. Boston. 1847. (12,191p.):109 Gen. Column of the ” Boston Transcript”. 1906-1941.( The greatest single source of material for gen. Data for the N.E. area and for the period 1600-1800. Completely indexed in the Index.): 16 Feb 1910, 1160; 12 Jul 1911, 2116
I guess we were Puritans! My 10th great grandparents were Richard Warren (sailed on the 1620 Mayflower voyage) and Elizabeth Walker (sailed on the 1623 Anne voyage)
Many historical and genealogical writings offer information on Richard Warren and Elizabeth Walker (my 10th great grandparents). Richard sailed on the Mayflower in 1620. He came to the new world alone making sure that things would be satisfactory for the rest of his family. So, YES, my 10th great grandfather was on the original journey of the Mayflower.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Warren “At the time of the Mayflower’s voyage in 1620, Richard and his wife had five daughters: Mary (my 9th grandmother), Ann, Sarah, Elizabeth and Abigail. But Richard came on the Mayflower alone, deciding to wait until conditions in the New World were satisfactory before bringing over his family.”
Elizabeth, (my 10th great grandmother) then arrived in the new world in 1623 and is described here: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bobwolfe/gen/mn/m2332x2333.htm
“Elizabeth Walker followed husband Richard to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the Anne in 1623, accompanied by their daughters: Mary, Elizabeth, Ann, Sarah, and Abigail. Early Plymouth records suggest that Elizabeth was a woman of force and social position in the community. She was rated in the Plymouth tax list of 1632-3, and was one of the first purchasers of Dartmouth. She is usually spoken of as Mistress Elizabeth Warren, a designation by no means common, and she is one of the rare instances in that early colony of continued widowhood.
“Mistris Elizabeth Warren an aged widdow aged above 90 yeares Deceased on the [twenty-] second of October 1673 whoe haveing lived a Godly life Cam to her Grave as a shoke of Corn fully ripe shee was honoralby buried on the 24th of October aforsaid.” “Plymouth Colony vital records,”
Richard only lived until the age of 49 and died in 1628. The quote http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bobwolfe/gen/mn/m2332x2333.htm here is from Nathaniel Morton’s 1669 book New England’s Memorial: “This year [1628] died Mr. Richard Warren, who was an useful instrument and during his life bare a deep share in the difficulties and troubles of the first settlement of the Plantation of New Plymouth.”
Here is HOW we connect to Richard Warren (1579 – 1628)
10th great-grandfather
10th great-grandfather
Mary Warren (1610 – 1683)
daughter of Richard Warren
daughter of Richard Warren
Elizabeth Bartlett (1636 – 1713)
daughter of Mary Warren
daughter of Mary Warren
Jeremiah Sprague (1682 – 1759)
son of Elizabeth Bartlett
son of Elizabeth Bartlett
Knight SPRAGUE Sr ** (Rev War) Sr (1711 – 1804)
son of Jeremiah Sprague
son of Jeremiah Sprague
Anthony SPRAGUE (1742 – 1831)
son of Knight SPRAGUE Sr ** (Rev War) Sr
son of Knight SPRAGUE Sr ** (Rev War) Sr
Anthony Sprague Jr (1766 – 1850)
son of Anthony SPRAGUE
son of Anthony SPRAGUE
Mary “Polly” Sprague (1792 – 1852)
daughter of Anthony Sprague Jr
daughter of Anthony Sprague Jr
John Kellogg Bishop (1827 – 1906)
son of Mary “Polly” Sprague
son of Mary “Polly” Sprague
Dorothy (Dora) Bishop (1857 – 1904)
daughter of John Kellogg Bishop
daughter of John Kellogg Bishop
George Kellogg Hess Sr. (1891 – 1969)
son of Dorothy (Dora) Bishop
Hess Sr. (1891 – 1969)son of Dorothy (Dora) Bishop
Johan Sprague born in Dorset, England in 1501 – my 13th great grandfather
When I received my DNA results from Ancestry.com, I was amazed to see a high percentage of my heritage was attributed to Great Britain. If Ancestry has my DNA results right, Great Britain is the source of 53% of my heritage. As a little girl, I remember asking many times where my ancestors had come from, and the most common answer I received was, “Germany”. Indeed, I do have many German ancestors especially on my mother’s side of the family. But, here, in this blog on Johan Sprague, I continue my unfolding documentation of my father’s ancestors and I keep learning about my English/ Irish ancestry!
Johan Sprague was my 13th great grandfather. Here is a view of how Johan connects to my father, Robert Lawrence Hess:
Johan Sprague (1501 – 1526)
13th great-grandfather
13th great-grandfather
Enos Sprague (1525 – 1554)
son of Johan Sprague
son of Johan Sprague
Tristram SPRAGUE (1550 – 1575)
son of Enos Sprague
son of Enos Sprague
Edward SPRAGUE (1576 – 1614)
son of Tristram SPRAGUE
son of Tristram SPRAGUE
William Sprague Sr. (1609 – 1675)
son of Edward SPRAGUE
son of Edward SPRAGUE
Anthony William Sprague (1635 – 1719)
son of William Sprague Sr.
son of William Sprague Sr.
Jeremiah Sprague (1682 – 1759)
son of Anthony William Sprague
son of Anthony William Sprague
Knight Sprague (1711 – 1804)
son of Jeremiah Sprague
son of Jeremiah Sprague
Anthony Sprague (1742 – 1831)
son of Knight Sprague
son of Knight Sprague
Anthony Sprague Jr (1766 – 1850)
son of Anthony SPRAGUE
son of Anthony SPRAGUE
Mary “Polly” Sprague (1792 – 1852)
daughter of Anthony Sprague Jr
daughter of Anthony Sprague Jr
John Kellogg Bishop (1827 – 1906)
son of Mary “Polly” Sprague
son of Mary “Polly” Sprague
Dorothy (Dora) Bishop (1857 – 1904)
daughter of John Kellogg Bishop
daughter of John Kellogg Bishop
George Kellogg Hess Sr. (1891 – 1969)
son of Dorothy (Dora) Bishop
Hess Sr. (1891 – 1969)son of Dorothy (Dora) Bishop
Now, I am going to share a link from a writing project that was done on the genealogy of the Sprague’s. I am so very grateful for this story, but, is it only historical fiction? Is it just a tall tale? I have made my own conclusion, but I will let you make your own decision!
- 1.0 1.1 Family History – The First Three Generations of Sprague’s Family. Written by students of International Training and Education Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Ms. Kelly Norman, teacher. It is not clear whether this unsourced material is based on research of the actual lives of persons, or whether it is historical fiction intended to illustrate the religion, politics, and health issues of the eras in which they lived. http://rubikgroup.weebly.com/1/post/2013/10/family-history-the-first-three-generations-of-spragues-family.html. Accessed June 7, 2015.
” On a bitter cold day in 1501, Johan Sprague was born in Dorset, England in a Catholic family. From 1512 to 1516, he was studied in a church near his house, but deep down in his heart, he did not believe in Catholicism. By midsummer in 1516, he was married Marie – a pastor’s daughter in the church who taught him. Nine years later, in 1525, they was has a first son – named Enos Sprague. In 1527, they had twins girls, Ava and Mia, but Ava died when she was two years old because of influenza. Three years later, when Mia was five years old, many people in their village got and died of smallpox, and she also got it, she survived but sadly it made her blind. In 1534, Henry VIII dissolved England’s monasteries because Pope did not allow him to divorces his first wife. “After Henry’s death, England tilted toward Calvinist-infused Protestantism during Edward VI’s six-year reign”[1]. Many evangelical churches springing up, Johan Sprague and his family left Catholicism and became Protestant, but not much people in the village knew about that. He really found his faith in Protestantism. Unfortunately, after Edward died, Mary I (also known as “Bloody Mary”) was crowned, people endured five years of reactionary Catholicism under Mary I, she was beheaded and burned many Protestants, nearly 300 Protestants were burned to death. Governments and Catholics had no evidence of Sprague family were Protestants, therefore they can safe. Unfortunately, in 1556, Sunday morning, Sprague family were be burned at their house, Johan, Marie, Mia and Enos’s children all dead, just Enos and his wife can alive, the neighbors around said it was just an accident, but someone believe that Catholics did.”
Sadly, if this story is true, Johan had a life cut short by heresy laws that disallowed Protestant beliefs. Henry the VIII had allowed Protestant beliefs in order that he may divorce his wife. But, when Queen Mary I (or “Bloody Mary” ) came to power she had nearly 300 persons killed in her attempt to restore the Catholic Church and rid it of Protestants. If the story above is true, my 13th great grandfather, Johan and most of his family came to a horrible violent death. However, Johann may have never had the twin girls referenced and he may have died at the age of 26 in 1526 rather that 1556 as this story sites.
Additional research
Note: Even though Johan’s death date is first listed as 1526 in this research, it is also within the same research document listed as 1556. Ugh…more confusion!
If his death date was really 1526, it makes the story of the twin girls and Johan’s death for heresy less likely!
Watch for more blogs on the Sprague family coming soon! I would be very grateful for any information you might wish to share on my family roots!
Luigi “Louis” Bravin and Thecla Melosso
Luigi “Louis” Bravin was born in 1884 in Italy. He was a brother of Anibale Bravin ( the great grandfather of my children.)
Louis married Thecla (or Tekla or Cecelia; Meloso or Melloso) on November 15, 1909. They had five children in 12 years.
He died in 1936 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, at the age of 52, and was buried there.
Louis immigrated to the U.S.A. from Udine, Italy when he was 22 or 23 in approx. 1906/07. When he was 25 years old (November 15, 1909) he married Tecla.
By occupation he was a stone mason.
Together, Louis and Tecla had these children: John Edward 1910-2003/ Mary “Sister M. Yolanda” 1912-1996/ Rose E. 1915-2006/ Yolanda Madeline 1918-2011/ Evelyn Louis 1923-2014. (These children were the Bravin great, great Uncles and Aunts to my children.)
telling life stories 