TRAVER, Willett R.

WILLETT R. TRAVER

This photo of Willett Traver was located at the Antique Fair last weekend at the South Florida Fairgrounds in Palm Beach County, Florida.

The name written on the back is "Willett R. Traver" but unfortunately the location is unknown as the mat has been trimmed and there is only a remnant of the photographic studio's name remaining.

Fortunately, the name is unique enough, I believed it would be possible to track him down. The Traver family was well-known in Dutchess County NY at the end of the 19th century, and that is where Willett was found.

WILLETT R. TRAVER
born 22 Nov 1851
died 05 May 1894
buried Wurtemburg Cemetery, Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, NY

His wife was Lizzie E. Schultz (1860-1946)

1865 NY State Census, Clinton, Dutchess County
TRAVER, William Curtis, 42
TRAVER, Ann, 43
TRAVER, Zuletta (Ruthella), 17
TRAVER, Willett, 13
TRAVER, Mary E (or May), 13
TRAVER, Maria A, 11

1870 Census Clinton, Dutchess County, NY
TRAVER, William, 47, farmer
TRAVER, Ann, 48, keeping home
TRAVER, Willett, 18
TRAVER, Merritt, 18
TRAVER, Ann, 15
TRAVER Catherine, 10

1892 New York State census, Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, NY
TRAVER, Willett, 40, clerk
TRAVER, Lizzie E., 31, dressmaker
TRAVER, Alice A., 8
TRAVER, Julia A., 70

The 1892 State Census did not describe any relationships, so one is left to assume that Alice (8) is the daughter of Willett and Lizzie. This was later confirmed on the 1920 Federal Census where we find Alice at the age of 35, living with her husband Ethan Coon (occupation florist), daughters Margaret (5) and Catherine (3), along with her mother Lizzie E. Traver (59) and her husband's father Robert. Lizzie is described as the widowed mother-in-law of the head of the household.

Further research shows that Margaret Coon married a man named Bowman. Younger sister Eleanor (born 1921) married a man named Closs.

Willett's mother was born as Ann Bishop.

It seems that Willett was a twin, as a sibling of the same age appears on two Census reports. However, in 1865 the sibling is reported as a female named Mary E., and in 1870 is reported as a male named Merritt. I believe Merritt is correct, as there is a record of Merritt Traver, same birthdate as Willett Traver, marrying a Lucy Lambert Cookingham in 1875 in Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, New York.

BISHOP, Sam

Sam Bishop, Philadelphia, Penn.

This photo was located at an antique fair at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

The photo was taken in Philadelphia, around 1885. Sam Bishop appears to be about 25-30 years old, which would  make his birth somewhere around 1855-1860.

The 1880 census for Philadelphia finds a Bishop family living at 17 Sharpnack Street, in the Germantown district. Head of the family is Isic (Isaac?) Bishop (56, teamster) but there is no wife listed. Eldest son in the house is Sam Bishop (22 [thus born around 1858], working in a woollen mill). There are also three daughters, Elizabeth (17), Mary E. (12) and Annie F. (10).

The 1870 census sheds a bit more light. At that earlier time, Isaac's wife, Cathus was present. She was 37 in 1870, thus born around 1833.  At age 13, Sam was already working in the woollen mill.

Now we jump forward to the 1900 Census. The family is now situated on Cumberland Street. Head of the household is Sam, now 41 years old and employed as a machinist. Living with him are sisters Elizabeth Bishop (35), Mary Toner (28, widowed, employed as a grocery cashier), Anna Bishop (22), as well as three boarders.

Father Isaac died in 17-Sep-1895.  News of his funeral was mentioned in the 20-Sep-1895 Philadelphia Times.

Sister Mary married Joseph Vincent Toner in 1895, but he apparently died prior to the 1900 Census as Mary had returned to her family's residence by that time..

ORR Augustus and wife Rebecca STEWART

UPDATE - this photo was claimed by a descendent and has gone home. This photo was acquired on February 8, 2015 at a booth at the Antique fair at Palm Beach County Fairgrounds in Florida.

It was taken circa 1890-95 at a photographic studio in Cadiz, Ohio.

On the back is written "Augustus Orr and wife Rebecca Jane Stewart."

Rebecca is the second wife of Augustus and about 19 years his junior. On the 1900 census for Rumley Township, Harrison County Ohio, his birthday is recorded as "Aug 1827" and hers is "June 1846" (although it appears to have been corrected to 1844.)

Also in the household are two children from his first marriage to Levina Arbaugh (1824-1878); Jonathan (Nov. 1856) and Andrew (June 1864), as well as two daughters from his second marriage; Amanda (Jan 1883) and Jessie (May 1885).

Augustus died in 1920. His parents were Singleton Orr and Mary Marsh.

Rebecca lived until 1927. Her parents were Jesse Stewart and Rebecca Haines.

MUSGROVE, Roxie Rogers and Arphax

UPDATE - Roxie Rogers and Arphax Musgrove have been claimed by family and are going home. The lovely young lady below was labelled with the inscription above. It took me weeks to finally identify the name as "Roxie Rogers-Musgrove." The last name drove me nuts. I kept seeing it as "Innesgrove" or "Inersgrove." Only when I put these away for a while, then pulled them out and looked again, did I finally see the first letter as an M.

ROXIE B. ROGERS-MUSGROVE
Born 6 Nov 1890 to Parents James William Rogers and Louisa Deaubary Kaster.
Died  25 or 26 June 1930 (age 39)

She had one sister (Mrs. Cecil Willet), and 3 brothers Charles W. Rogers, Kastor C. Rogers, and Glenn W. Rogers.

Married to Gilbert Rowan Musgrove on 7 Apr 1919.

Children: Walter Rowan Musgrove (b. abt 1924), Nellie Lou Musgrove (1925) and Lillie Virgilia "Jill" Musgrove (1928).

1930 Census (April 12, 1930) Canton Township, Missouri.
MUSGROVE, Gilbert R. (36) General Farming
MUSGROVE, Roxy (39)
MUSGROVE, Walter (6)
MUSGROVE, Nellie (3 and 9/12)
MUSGROVE, Lillie (2 and 2/12)

ARPHAX MUSGROVE

Roxie's husband Gilbert (16 Sep 1893-1954) was a son of Thomas Arphaxad Musgrove and Lillie. Gilbert had a younger brother named Arphax W. Musgrove (born 3 October 1896, died 1969).

In the same box in which I located the photo of Roxie, in fact right next to her, was found this photo of "Arphax Musgrove". I thought at first this may be a photo of the man she married, given the same last name, but it turned out to be her brother-in-law.

SPINK, Beda

UPDATE - Beda Spink has been claimed by a descendant and is going home. This photo, taken in Winona Minnesota, circa 1885-1890, bears an inscription on the back, which says:

"Grandmother Wallcott-Lindsey, mother of Eliza Alice Wallcott-Fishbyrne, wife of William Alexander Fishbyrne"

Upon investigation, I find that the name of the grandmother is "Beda Spink."

BEDA SPINK-WOLCOTT-LINDSAY

born 1834 (Wyoming County, NY) to parents David Spink and wife.

died 1925 (Caledonia, WI)

Married to 1) George H WOLCOTT and 2) Chester LINDSAY

She had 6 children with her first husband and 1 child with her second husband.

STAGG, Fred

FRED STAGG, Brockville, Ont.

This snapshot of Fred Stagg was found in the same box as the six previously posted photographs, at the Antique Fair in Vero Beach last weekend.

To this point, most of the other photos all seemed to have a connection to St. Lawrence County, New York.

This photo bears a hand-written note on the back which says "Fred Stagg, Brockville, Ont."

The only obvious connection between this photo and the previous four is that Brockville, Ontario is situated directly across the St. Lawrence River from Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County, New York.

I cannot determine from the clothing when this photo may have been taken. My guess 1910 to 1920, and Fred looks to be around age 25 to 30 at this time.

I find a Fred Stagg on the 1891 Canadian Census for Brockville, Ontario.  The family is enumerated thusly:

• STAGG, Alfred, age 52, born in England, occupation Butcher
• STAGG, Laura, 52, born in Ontario
• STAGG, Fred A., 27, Ontario, Butcher
• STAGG, William, 23, Ontario
• STAGG, Louisa, 21
• STAGG, George, 19
• STAGG, Lillian, 16
• STAGG, Frank, 14
• STAGG, Ethel, 11

However, unless the photograph was taken earlier than I suspect, the Fred mentioned in the Census would appear to be too early to be the same man, although the man in the photograph could be from the next generation of Staggs in Brockville. In 1891, Fred was 27, thus born around 1863. That would make him about age 56 in the photo above, if the photo was taken around 1920.

Fred and George are mentioned in this news items from Brockville, Ontario, which appeared in the THE BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE edition of Monday, March 9, 1896.

 

Being a butcher, Fred not surprisingly owned some pigs. His name appears in the 1908 edition of the Canadian National Record for Swine, Volume 19, page 31, as the owner of two named sows from the same 1908 litter.

I still suspect the fellow in the photo is a son or nephew of the fellow I have found the evidence for. I would love to hear from someone who can shed more light on this young man and help me find his family.

KLOCK, Dr. Henry Albright

Dr. H. A. KLOCK

UPDATE - Dr. Klock has been claimed by a family member and is going home. This photo of "Dr. H.A. KLOCK" was taken in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, circa 1885-1888.

The subject's full name, upon investigation, is found to be HENRY ALBRIGHT KLOCK.

Born 16 Aug 1848 in Pitman, Schuylkill County, PA.
Son of Joseph Z. Klock and Magdalena Hepler, who were farmers in the area of Pitman, Schuylkill County. Henry had a brother named William who continued in the farming business.

Henry married in 1872 to Elizabeth Sidney Seiler.

1880 Census - Mahanoy City, Shuylkill County PA.
54 Centre Street
KLOCK, H. A., 31 yr, head, Physician
KLOCK, Elizabeth, 28 yr, wife, housekeeping (her parents were Welsh immigrants)
KLOCK, Joseph,  7yr, son
SEILER, Cyrus, 21 brother-in-law, laborer

1900 Census - Mahanoy City, Schuylkill PA.
231 East Centre Street
KLOCK, Henry A., head, Aug 1848, 51, Physician
KLOCK, Elizabeth S., wife, March 1852, 48
KLOCK, LeRoy Egbert, son, Dec 1880, 19, at school
KLOCK, Joseph Victor, son, March 1873, 27, Physician
KLOCK, Minnie M., daughter-in-law, March 1873, 27
BARNHART, Edith, servant, July 1879, 20, servant

Dr. Klock died in Mahanoy City on 1 Feb, 1908. Both of his sons followed in their father's footsteps and became doctors in Schuykill County.

HAND, Fred Ziba

Nine year old FRED Z. HAND

This photo was found at an antique fair in Vero Beach this weekend.

It was taken at a studio in New York City. Can't quite read the photographer's mark, but it looks like "Bostinck" or possibly "Rostinek."

The back of the photo is inscribed: "For Grandma from nine year old Fred Z. Hand". The photo taken early to mid 1880's, making his birthday around mid-1870's.

The 1880 Census finds the family living in Flushing, Queens. Father Ziba is a butcher. At that time, Fred is 7 years old (thus born around 1873) and attending school. There is a 2-year-old daughter named May. The family also has a 21-year-old servant named Mary Maker, whose parents were Irish immigrants.

Frederick Ziba Hand died 11 Aug 1895 in  Manhattan County, NY, age 21.

Death notice was carried in the newspaper "New-York Tribune" 13 Aug 1895, page 7. It states that his parents were Ziba and Hannah C. Hand. But does not say why he died so young.

1900 Census for Queens has the remaining family members at a residence at 71 Broadway. Ziba is now 72 years old and employed as a Clerk. Mother Hannah is 63; she has had 2 children, 1 of which is still living. Fred's sister May is 22 and working as a teacher.

Father Ziba Hand appears to have come from the Potsdam, St Lawrence County area of NY. He appears as a 21-year-old on an 1850 census there, living with his parents Ziba and Irene Hand (presumably the "Grandma" mentioned in the inscription on the photo), his two elder sisters and one younger brother.  Ziba Hand died in Queens, NY in 1901.

In trying to find the maiden name of Fred's mother, I found this funeral notice for her. She died in 1923. Fred's sister May apparently married Walter H. Griggs and lived in Elmhurst. This insert was carried in the New York Times shortly after June 8, 1923.

Searching further into May's life (for possible descendents), I see that she applied for a passport in 1920 and listed her husband as Walter Hubbard Griggs.

The newspaper "Long Island Daily Press," issue of 19 Jan 1925 includes this insert which mentions that May died on December 8 of the previous year.

Walter remarried in October of 1925.

JOBSON, John

John Jobson

UPDATE - John Jobson has been claimed by his granddaughter, and is going home. This photograph labeled simply "John Jobson" was located at the Vero Beach Florida Antique Fair this weekend.

The fact that it is a snapshot with no matte which might yield clues regarding the location, made me wonder if it would possible at all to correctly identify the family to whom he belongs.

But my fears were unfounded, as he was identified rather quickly.

This is JOHN HENRY JOBSON, born 20 Nov 1901 in Jefferson County, NY, to parents Arthur Jobson and Florence Hearns. He died in July 1955 in Ogdensburg, St Lawrence County, NY.

He married Violet Catherine Brown, and they had eight children.

This photo was found on-line at Ancestry.com

In seeking more clues at Ancestry.com , I discovered that there were several men named "John Jobson" who appeared to be roughly the same age as the man in the photo. Without a known location, this fellow could have been any of those.

But the clincher came when I saw this photo (at left) on-line, which is clearly the same individual, and was obviously taken during the same studio sitting. His hair is styled the same way. He is wearing the same suit and tie. And the light source at the left of both photos is identical.

Without this second photo as positive confirmation, I do not think I could have been certain exactly which John Jobson I had found.

FENTON, Vida Leona

VIDA LEONA FENTON

UPDATE - VIDA L. FENTON has been claimed and is going home. The photograph of Vida Leona FENTON was found at an antique fair in Vero Beach Florida yesterday. She is the second person from St Lawrence County, New York, found in the same box of photos and posted to this blog.

The photo was taken in the town of Gouverneur, NY.

VIDA LEONA FENTON (born 1 Aug 1888 in Pitcairn, St Lawrence County, NY) to parents: 

father: Homer J. Fenton (1856-1928) a son of Ephraim Fenton and Pamelia Dickenson.

mother: Amelia Mariah Hosmer (1851-1931) a daughter of Aaron Hosmer and Martha Conger.

1900 Census Pitcairn, St Lawrence County, NY
FENTON, Homer J. (head) born Jan 1856, age 44, carpenter
FENTON, Amelia M., (wife) Jan 1851, age 49
FENTON, Vida L. (daughter) Aug 1888, age 11
FENTON, Jennie H. (neice) May 1898, age 2
HOSMER, Aaron, (father-in-law) Apr 1807, 93


1905 began Teacher's Training at Gouverneur, NY.

Active in the Young Women's Temperence Union.

She died of pneumonia on Easter Sunday 1906, at the age of 17.