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VOLUME 6 NUMBER 1 - Mar 2007
EDITOR: PETER C. CHENOWETH - E-MAIL: p.chenoweth@comcast.net

COMMITTEE TO REVIEW BY-LAWS

In a move suggested by the general membership meeting at the 2006 National [DIRECTORS] Reunion in Baltimore, MD, the Chenoweth Family Association Board of Directors approved the formation of a committee to review the by-laws of the Association. Members of this Committee are Beverly and Richard "Dick" Buchanan, Michael F. Chenoweth and Board member Darroll Hawkins (Chairman). The Committee will look at the current by-laws and recommend changes. It is expected that this review will be completed prior to the end of 2007 and implemented prior to the 2008 National Reunion in Ft Wayne, IN.

John Chenoweth(1)

This issue brings us another article by Greg Wulker about the early years of John Chenoweth(1). An interesting look at what his early occupation might have been.

Caroline B. VanDeusen, et al

An unusual look at feminism in the mid 1800s involving the wife of Bernard Peel Chenoweth and his sister, Alice Day Chenoweth, a novelist who wrote under the name of Helen Gardner.

Grandsons of John(1)

The 11th installment of Jon Egge's series on the descendants of John(1) continues with this issue as a discussion of the grandsons named Thomas are discussed.

Do You Know These People?

This section resumes again this issue with a look at 158 unknown marriages. These individuals are part of a database of some 900 individuals that we have been unable to place and are hoping that you can help with.


[COAT-OF-ARMS] OTHER ITEMS IN THIS ISSUE

Chenoweth Women Seek Equal Opportunities for Women in Government

By Jon Egge & Moreen Dee (Australian Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade)

Late last year, I was contacted by Ms Johnstone of Australia who was doing research on historical documented cases of discrimination against women. She had run across just such an instance in the case of Caroline B. Van Deusen, the wife of Bernard Peel Chenoweth. The Harris book describes much of the life of Bernard Peel in some detail on pages 235-6. It is an interesting story. Briefly, Bernard supported the Union and served as an Officer in the Union Army. Upon returning to civilian life he found his personal holdings devastated by the war and himself a pauper estranged from most of his family. He used the opportunity of the election of US Grant to the Presidency to seek an appointment in the Foreign Service. Granted his request, Bernard took his family to Canton, China, but soon died. Caroline was asked by the local US merchants to continue his duties, but was denied the position because she was a woman. She returned to the US to become a successful professor of English Literature at Smith College, authoring many books and articles. Three of the several documents kindly sent me by Ms Johnstone are included below. They paint a wonderfully rich picture of the tenor of the times and circumstances. I doubt if much I could add would enhance the story they tell.

Bernard Peel was the son of Alfred Griffith, a Methodist Minster and a descendant of Arthur's son John, a branch of the family that was the wealthiest and most substantial of any of the early Chenoweth families. We know nothing about what happened to Oramel Goddard Chenoweth, he appears to be alive when Caroline left China and he is last seen with her in the 1880 Census of Massachusetts. Thanks to a World Family Tree submittal we know that Ernest Bernard Chenoweth married and had one daughter before he died at the young age of 32. The daughter, Mary-Lewis Chenoweth, married Ralph Fletcher and reviewing this material renewed my interest in trying to track down one of her descendants. I was recently able to locate her grandson, Darryl B. Denison in Vancouver, WA

Caroline had an equally accomplished sister-in-law in Bernard's sister, Alice Chenoweth Day, a novelist who wrote under the penname Helen Gardener. A bio of her is included at the end of this article, describing her as a "consummate feminist, constantly finding ways to make federal service a more accessible and equitable career for women." Perhaps part of her incentive was the treatment her sister-in-law Caroline had received at the hands of the US Government.

BERNARD PEEL6 CHENOWETH (ALFRED GRIFFITH5, JOHN4, JOHN3, ARTHUR2, JOHN1) was born August 18, 1836 in Greenbrier Co., VA (now WV), and died June 21, 1870 in Canton, CHINA. He married CAROLINE B. VAN DEUSEN March 19, 1863 in Jefferson Co., IN, daughter of CHARLES VAN DUESEN and MARY HUNTINGTON. She was born December 29, 1846 in New Albany, Floyd Co., IN, and died May 12, 1917 in Worcester Co., MA.

Children of BERNARD CHENOWETH and CAROLINE VAN DEUSEN are:

  1. ERNEST BERNARD7 CHENOWETH, b. July 26, 1865, St. Charles Co., MO; d. May 21, 1897, Leicester, Worcester Co., MA; m. EDITH FANNY WAY, April 18, 1892, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA; b. May 08, 1866, Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA; d. November 12, 1905, Jamaica Plains, MA.
  2. ORAMEL GODDARD CHENOWETH, b. July 25, 1867, Worchester Co., MA.

Washington DC
March 16, 1869

To the Honorable Hamilton Fisk
Secretary of State

The undersigned would respectfully represent that at the breaking out of the war he was a resident of Missouri where he was publishing a Republican newspaper, and in the possession of a comfortable property. After the first election of Mr. Lincoln, public excitement ran so high that he was indicted by the rebels for publishing incendiary articles. The legal penalty was five years in the State prison, the probable penalty was death on the streets if he should be arrested. He escaped into Kansas but continued to issue the paper on the opposite side of the Missouri River at his former office, St Joseph, MO. At the fall of Fort Sumter and the call for troops, he discontinued the paper and raised in ten hours and partially clothed and equipped a company of eighty-five men. He furnished this clothing, etc because the government was at this time unable to do so from the stores at Fort Leavenworth. He has never asked for or received a dollar in return for this outlay.

Early in the war he was detailed as an Insp Gener'l on the staff of Gen'l G. M. Dodge, late member of the House of Rep. from Iowa. It is proper to state here that he was mustered into the service as a ranking captain of the First Kansas Regt. A year and a half elapsed; he had been serving for sometime on Gen Dodges staff, and before and during that time inferior officers had been promoted over his head both in his own regiment and to fill appointments in new ones. His friend Gen'l A. L. Lee the Chief of Cavalry in the staff of Gen'l Banks, Dept of the Gulf, found means to offer him a colonalcy in that Dept and got permission from Gen'l Grant for him to go, but after the order directing him to report to Gen'l Banks had been made out, it was suppressed on the grounds stated in the following extracts from a letter of Gen'l Lees, the original of which the subscriber still has in his possession. "He" (Gen'l Grant) "informed me that after I had left Vicksburg, Lt. Col Wislon, his Insp Gen'l made so strong remonstrances against your removal from your present position - himself extolling you so highly and showing letters of strong commendation from Gen'l Dodge - that he countermanded the order. He said you were an officer of too much value to him in your present capacity to be spared. I could not induce him to consent to your absence from his Dept and your present position. Gen'l Thomas who was by, offered to commission you as Col on the spot if Gen'l Grant would consent"

The undersigned received this news with disappointment, but that disappointment was softened and rendered almost welcome by the handsome compliment from his great chief. Gen'l Grant had the kindness both to telegraph and to write to him through Gen'l Wislon that his (Gen'l Grants) action had been induced by a regard for the good of the service, and that he would take care of the interest of the undersigned in future. The latter therefore rested content. Soon another offer of a Lt Colonalcy came from the same source. This time the General, for strong reasons adduced, gave permission for its acceptance, but before the acceptance could be made known to the proper authorities another man had been commissioned to the place. Gen'l Grant soon honored him by a detail to serve on his own staff. As to his record there, which was but a short one, the accompanying letter (copy) of the General will testify. The term of service of the 1st Kansas in which he held his commission, expired and he was mustered out with the same rank with which he entered the army more than 3 years before. He returned to civil life to find his large influential family, all Virginians, but some branches residing in Missouri, violently and bitterly estranged from him on account of his stand in the war and previously. To find his own property in ashes, not a vestige of it remaining, to find his wife's handsome estate which unfortunately happened to be in money in New Orleans at the beginning of the war having just been converted into cash by the executor who probably paid it into the Confederate Treasury, a total loss and to find himself a pauper with a wife brought up in affluence and a little child. He feared to return to the South, and especially to Virginia which had been his home until manhood, and where both branches of his family had resided for nearly two hundred years. He went to Worcester, Mass, where he knew one man. A generous people soon gave him the responsible office of Supt of Public Schools, which he held nearly 3 years. His record there is shown by the accompanying endorsement from Hon. Geo F. Hoar, M.C., but failing health compelled him to resign such a laborious post in an uncongenial climate, and six months ago he returned to Virginia, his mother state with the purpose of remaining there through life. He has no property and no means whatever of supporting himself and family and he is compelled by stern necessity to ask through you of his old chief and beloved General some help to begin the world anew. First he asks for the position of Minister to Japan, next for the Consulate general at Shanghai, and next for the Consulate at Canton, China or some similar position in a genial climate. Very respectfully yours,

B. P. Chenoweth

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US Military Telegraph
Pilaski, Dec 12, 1863
By telegraph from Chattanooga, 12, 1863

To Brig Genl G. M. Godge

Genl

By a communication from Capt B. H. Chenoweth to genl Wilson of my staff I learn that the Capt is offered a Lieut Cononelcy of an African Regiment at New Orleans. You are authorized to give him leave to proceed to that front in view of the facts set forth I think it best for him to accept. I will gladly do anything I can to further advance his interests

U.S. Grant
Maj Genl

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Elbilt House, Nov 9th, 1872

To the President of the United States

Sir,

The Hon Secy of State refuses to consider for a moment the question of appointing a woman to any Foreign Consulate.

He kindly admits that I mastered the duties of the Consulate at Canton while I had charge of that office, but while he does not doubt my ability to perform the regular consular work would oppose such an appointment upon the ground that questions are liable to arise which it would be impossible for a woman to discuss. In answer to my plea that such questions had never yet arisen, he replied that they might. Upon this remote possibility I am set aside and am left to wonder why I need be denied this position under a Government which it has already been proven can intelligently serve - and for whose sake the life so necessary to myself and family was cheerfully sacrificed. Am I to consider that Mt. Fish's views decide my final answer, or may I still have my application before yourself with permission to resume it should a more favorable opportunity ever offer.

I am yours most respectfully

C.V.D. Chenoweth

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Women in World History. A Biographical Encyclopedia." Volume 6, GAB-HARP. Anne Commire, Editor, Deborah Klezmer, Associate Editor, Yorkin Publications. Copyright 2000. ISBN # 0-7876-4065-4. Pages 55-57.

Gardener, Helen Hamilton (1853-1925)

American Author, feminist, suffragist, and federal civil service commissioner. Name variations: Alice Chenoweth: Alice Smart. Born Alice Chenoweth in Winchester, Virginia on January 21, 1853; died in Washington D.C. on July 26, 1925; third daughter and youngest of six children of Reverend Alfred G. and Katherine A. (Peel) Chenoweth; attended high school in Cincinnati: graduated from the Cincinnati Normal School, 1873; studied biology at Columbia University; married Charles S. Smart (school commissioner of Ohio), in 1875 (died 1901); married Colonel Selden Allen Day (a retired army officer), on April 9, 1902 (died 1919); no children.

The daughter of an abolitionist and itinerant Methodist preacher, Helen Gardener was born Alice Chenoweth in Winchester, Virginia on January 21, 1853. She grew up in Washington, D.C., Greencastle, Indiana and Cincinnati, Ohio, where she attended high school and graduated from the Cincinnati Normal School. A brief career as a schoolteacher was followed by her marriage in 1875 to Charles Smart, then school commissioner of Ohio. In 1878, the couple moved to New York, where Smart entered the insurance business and Gardener studied biology at Columbia University, lectured in sociology at the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, and contributed articles on sundry subjects to newspapers (using various masculine pseudonyms). At this time, her friendship with renowned agnostic Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll and his wife had a great impact on her life, and at Ingersoll's urging Gardener began giving a series of freethinking lectures, which were heavily influenced by her new mentor. In 1885, the lectures were published as "Men, Women, and Gods, and Other Lectures" (1885) under the name of Helen Hamilton Gardener, a mysterious pseudonym that Gardener eventually adopted as her legal name.

Gardener came to the attention of feminists in 1888 with her famous essay "Sex in Brain," a refutation of a widely publicized claim by Dr. William A Hammond, a New York neurologist and former U.S. surgeon general, that female brains were inherently and measurably inferior to male brains. Gardener's well-researched rebuttal argued that Hammond's findings were invalid because all of the male brains he had studied were from intelligent, accomplished men, while the female brains in his study had come from indigents and criminals. To provide a suitable specimen for future research of this sort, Gardener magnanimously bequeathed her own brain to Cornell University.

Gardener achieved her greatest popularity with her novel "This is Your Son, My Lord?" (1890), an outspoken attack on legalized prostitution, and the ridiculously low legal age at which girls were considered to be at the age of consent, told through the melodramatic story of a young girl's demise at the hands of seemingly respectable men. The book sold 25,000 copies in five months and was the shock and controversy among critics and readers alike. Gardener's next novel, "Pray You Sir, Whose Daughter?" (1892), with which she hoped to repeat her earlier success, dealt with the inferior status imposed upon married women. Gardener digressed somewhat in her next book, a fictional biography of her father, "An Unofficial Patriot" (1884), which is considered by some to be her best work. In 1899, it was successfully dramatized by playwright James A. Herne as Griffith Davenport, Circuit Rider. In two collections of short stories, A Thoughtless Yes (1890) and Pushed by Unseen Hands (1892), she returned to challenge the status quo, and her articles on social issues, which appeared in numerous journals, were collected in Facts and Fictions of Life (1893). A long-time contributor to the reform magazine Arena, Gardener was its co-author in 1897. (Her husband Charles Smart served as Arena's business manager for several years.)

After the death of Smart in 1901, and her second marriage to Selden Allen Day, a retired army officer, Gardener spent five years in world travel, during which time her interest in reform cooled somewhat. The couple settled in Washington in 1907, after which Gardener was called upon by suffragists to use her wide social contacts with government figures to advance their cause. In 1913, after members of the Congressional Committee of the National American Woman Suffrage Association resigned to back Alice Paul's militant Congressional Union, Gardener was appointed to reorganize the association. She became its vice president in 1917, and through her personal contacts with President Woodrow Wilson and Speaker of the House Champ Clark, she was a central figure in steering the federal suffrage amendment to eventual ratification in 1920. That same year, at age 67, Gardener was appointed by Wilson to the U.S. Civil Service Commission, thus becoming the first woman to hold so high a federal position. Serving in the post until her death in 1925, Helen Gardener remained the consummate feminist, constantly finding ways to make federal service a more accessible and equitable career for women.


ON LINE PHOTO ALBUM GROWS

Do you have some Chenoweth Family photos that you wish to share with everyone? Than this is your opportunity. William "Bill" Chenoweth of Virginia has been maintaining an online Photo Album of the Chenoweth Family. Individuals are encouraged to add photos to this location. As Bill states "Historic photos would be most appreciative but even photos of current individuals will someday be historic". This is a chance to preserve visual Chenoweth Family history.

This site can be accessed at: http://chenowethphotos.com/Photoalbum_List.aspx


COMMENTS FROM THE CLAN

(The following e-mails have been received from members of the family with regards to the newsletter. Comments, articles, questions and other items for this newsletter are always appreciated.-editor)

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Thank-you so much for your wonderful website. I wish I had more time for my genealogy.

11 Dec 2006
Marsha Devers
United Kingdom

Thank you. Deanna and I actually got to London this October to visit with our daughter who was there for the fall semester. We had a great time, but everything seemed very expensive.... times have changed. Deanna especially liked Edinburgh. Me, I liked taking the Chunnel to Paris...(as only an old construction underground guy would). - Jon Egge.

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Thanks for the info on "findagrave.com". It is excellent and very helpful!! You're doing such a great job with the Chenoweth site. Just wanted you to know it's really appreciated.

11 Dec 2006
Sharon Seng

This site amazes me as to it's versatility. It also amazes me as to the people who have added thousands of entries. Most all of the people I have contacted with information or a question have been most helpful. A fellow in Missouri went out the next day and added pictures of the graves. I couldn't believe it. On a personal side, I was able to start a page for my Egge Grandparents family. As half of these people were cremated, this gives them some place to be remembered..... As you can tell, I do this because I enjoy it. Apparently, Find-a-grave has a lot of "enjoyers". - Jon Egge.

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My very best wishes to you for Happy Holidays.....We are all so thankful for the incredible work that you have performed for this family. You are a treasure.

11 Dec 2006
Jayne Marshall McKay

I am glad you enjoyed the newsletter. I never got a street or mailing address for you and now I have one - Jon Egge.

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Merry Christmas to you and yours. I hope that your health will improve during the coming year. I haven't been active in genealogy lately. I have been active on ebay disposing of my book collection. Good Luck to you.

11 Dec 2006
Richard "Dick" Buckey

Merry Christmas to you Dick. I think Greg did a great job putting some meat on your data. - Jon Egge.

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May you have love to share, health to spare and friends who care is my familys Christmas wish to you and your family.

I notice you say you are slowing down. Jon, it happens to all of us, unfortunately and in my 88th year I feel my limitations but I am so fortunate, healthwise. I do hope your health improves, you are a Chenoweth and we live an unusually long time. So hang in there, you'll improve I'm sure.

You and Pete, since you seem to be into DNA should be aware (Nick just got another monogram today) research into RNA is playing havoc with DNA and inherited genes. They've known for sometime DNA wasn't reliable as they first thought, labs are working overtime, the fields is so exciting. This new research, at the moment, shows RNA can cause an inherited talent, health problem, even hair color for 80 generations. If you can get the last two or three Discover Magazines there are articles on epigenetics.

Where did Mr Wulker get his information for an article? I'd like to see what he wrote but I want to see his bibliography. Aside from what Cora got from relatives she knew and what our immediate family told us, we have no idea where John came from, when or why. If Mr Wulker has some kind of secret pipeline I'd like to know about it. Our cousins in Kent, both born in Cornwall and Chenoweth related, that I have communicated with for several years, know very little about the family. Chenoweths are like rabbits in Cornwall. Lynn says tracing them is virtually impossible. She says John was a political prisoner and shipped from the English prison on the Isle of Wight and his family followed later, but she admits she isn't sure he's the John we mean. The more questions you ask the more answers you get but nothing factual. She said the Bishop of the Anglican Church to which Chenoweths belong, told her the records were destroyed by Cromwell so anything they have does not go beyond that. Archeologists are excavating an old church they attended and some Chenoweths are buried there. She'll keep in touch, but are they ours?

I'm going to read the Newsletter. I thank you so much for sending it. Walk this day in peace and the warmth of the sun.

11 Dec 2006
Shannon (Chenoweth) Graham

Well I will vouch for Greg....I have found him over the years to be a great researcher, particularly when it comes to leg work in going to places that keep the records or have a meaning. Greg met me in Winchester before the Elkins reunion, showed me where John(2) lived, and looked with me through the many land records there, resulting in several proofs. He was instrumental in proving who the Mary Chenoweth that married Abraham Sutton was and did the leg work for me in Champagne Co., OH to prove who my Henry was. Greg supplied Richard Harris with much information on the Warren Co., OH Chenoweths. His article is based on the records in Buckey's book, articulating them in a meaningful way (something Buckey did not do). Greg also added his own observations from visits to these early locations in America

The John Chenoweth who was shipped as a prisoner in 1715 to the West Indies is not our John, who was obviously in America and leaving records well before this. Many people have cited this prisoner as it is the only "early sailing record" of a Chenoweth to the New World. It is not relevant and only causes confusion. Greg's article is the clearest I have read on the early formation on the family. - Jon Egge.

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I was looking at the website today, reading about the Ft Wayne reunion. I only live about 30 minutes south of Ft Wayne, so I will plan on trying to attend. I saw the Chenoweth store page and saw Cora's book listed there as unavailable. I don't know if you have ever used Heritage Quest or not, but it is now only available to libraries. One of its features is full text scans of history books. Cora's book has been scanned and is available for free to anyone with access to HeritageQuest at their local library. If their library has Heritage Quest it is also available to them at home with remote access and a library card. All 240 pages are available, you can browse through the pages, seach for names, or if someone wanted to, download the entire book in 50 page sections, and print it out.

Since Heritage Quest has scanned the book, it must be out of copyright, and in the public domain. So it could theoretically be copied by someone and bound and sold through the website. Let me know if I can answer any other questions about this.

11 Dec 2006
Rhonda Stoffer
Head of Indiana History and Genealogy Services
Marion Public Library

Thank you, though I knew this, I had not thought to post it. Interesting enough, a couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Patricia Goodspeed. Apparently it was she who supplied the book copy from her family that became the "green" reprint. The business that did this disposed of their stock a few years ago. We missed a great opportunity by dillydallying of acquiring their stock. Oh well, I will mention the Heritage Quest availability on my site (and maybe Bill Chinworth) will do so as well. I use Heritage Quest all the time as my local library makes it accessible from my computer at home (unlike ancestry.com which I have to trudge to the library to access).

PS I am sure that Joyce would love to have your help in organizing a program for Ft Wayne. - Jon Egge.

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Pete, I was looking for information on Abraham Blackstone (b 1837-OH), son of Thomas Blackstone & Hannah Chenoweth (md 1832). I noticed in the Chenoweth Family Newsletter (Dec 06) that Jon Egge mentioned he had been in contact with a Thomas Charles Blackstone and got the complete line for Abraham down to the present. I have been researching Abraham and am looking for further details on him specifically. I suspect he served in the Civil War and know he was living in Taylor Co., IA in 1880. Can you put me in contact with Thomas Charles Blackstone? I'd really appreciate your help. Thank you.

21 Dec 2006
Roger Norland

Your e-mail address and inquiry has been forwarded to Thomas Charles Blackstone with the hopes that your search will prove beneficial to all interested. - editor.

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Jon, How are you doing after the storm? Is the power out so you get this next week, and shivering to keep warm? Or did you luck out and keep your power? Son Time and I went north for a family Christmas gathering out in Covington/Maple Valley/Black Diamond area yesterday. Couldn't believe the damage. Son-in-law said north Seattle, and surrounding area, was like a war zone. He's out of a job till the power is back on. Wish you luck and have a Merry Christmas in spite of Mother Nature.

17 Dec 2006
Alice Sanders

4 days now and counting... It is like living in a cave. I am falling further behind. Yes it is a war zone here. My best to you and yours for Christmas....Am in Seattle today checking on some things and recharging batteries, hence the reply - Jon Egge.

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I read with interest the December Newsletter. I am the Norma House that you mention. Aunt Susie would be jumping up and down with glee to access all the new information available to use. She did it the old fashion way...driving around the country visiting courthouses. I visited her in Plant City, Florida just a week before she passed away. She was still sharp as a tack. We talked genealogy the whole time during the visit. For your records her name was Susie Gladys House Cooper. She was born 20 Aug 1905 and passed away 30 Jun 2002 in Plant City,Florida.

Keep up the good work! Have a wonderful holiday season.

16 Dec 2006
Norma House

Many years ago I had the opportunity to visit with Susie. My parents used to have a craft booth at the Strawberry Festival and she loved to come by and say hi to her "cousin Chenoweths". I took the opportunity for 2 years to visit her at her home and discuss genealogy with her. She was a special person that we all have missed. - editor.

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Jon, you mentioned DNA testing and I wanted to tell you what success I had intesting my brother's DNA. At first there were four of us who matched our DNA, one other descendent of Dominick Diamond and two descendents of Daniel Diamond of Fayette County, PA. Then I contacted a Diamond correspondent from Derry County, Ireland and she tested her brother . . . well lo and behold, we matched his DNA. Since that time we have learned that our Diamond family of Derry County, Ireland were what they called erenaghs, those who took care of church property. I copied and pasted a paragraph below from the DNA site. It explains it a bit better. At any rate DNA testing has really helped in my genealogy as my Dimond/Diamond were in the US so early that finding my genealogical path back to Ireland without DNA testing would have been impossible. The key to a successful DNA site is to have a good administrator of that site. Steve Dimond has been a very good administrator.

We are family #6 at the site.

15 Dec 2006
Linda Goodell

I am pleased that you have had success with your DNA testing. A good administrator can only do so much when it comes to getting individuals to volunteer. We have had remarked success since our last reunion with 2 more samples this past month. I would very much like to obtain some samples from relatives in other locations, the "Old Country", Australia, New Zealand, etc. - editor.

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Pete, Better include Greg's address with your reunion survey. Might not be a bad idea to include the survey in the next newsletter to see what kind of feedback we get.

12 Dec 2006
Joyce Wiegand

I included Greg's address to those that it was sent to. I am going to see if Jon won't post it on the website so that individuals who attended the Reunions in 2000 (KY), 2002 (WV) and 2004 (OR) but did not attend another reunion will respond. The goal of the survey is to improve future reunions and meet family members desires. - editor..



IN MEMORIAM HONOR ROLL

With thanks and appreciation to Dot Tucker-Houk of Maryland who makes much of this list possible each newsletter

age 46 - KENNETH LEROY10 CHENOWETH (DALE LEROY9, FRANK FUNSTON8, JOHN DOTHERDY7, ISAAC NEWTON6, WILLIAM PUGH5, JOHN4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, JOHN1) was born April 16, 1960 in Cody, Park Co., WY, and died December 08, 2006 in Powell, Park Co., WY. He married (1) DEBRA MULHOLLAND. He married (2) CHRISTINE GUIMOND McRANN

age 42 - DONALD FRANCIS9 CHENOWETH (WOODROW WILSON8, EDWIN DUNCAN 'EDWARD'7, EDWIN DUNCAN6, GABRIEL5, JOHN4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, JOHN1) was born November 13, 1944 in Washington, and died December 29, 2006. He married PATRICIA LYNN BLANKENSHIP, 1983, daughter of ALBERT BLANKENSHIP and MARTHA POOL.

age 41 - MARK ANDREWS10 CHENOWETH (HARRY KENNETH9, HARRY KENNETH8, JAMES WILLIAM7, WILLIAM6, ABRAHAM5, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, JOHN1) was born December 17, 1945 in Jacksonville, Morgan Co., IL, and died January 16, 2007 in Springfield, Sangamon Co., IL. He married (1) DONNA WAMBACH, daughter of DONALD and MARY WAMBACH. He married (2) KIM CUNNINGHAM.

age 74 - DONNA M.10 STINSON nee CHENOWETH (JESSE HOWARD9, HEZEKIAH8, JOHN CASPER7, HEZEKIAH STITES6, CASPER5, WILLIAM S.4, JOHN3, JOHN2, JOHN1) was born March 18, 1932 in Omaha, Douglas Co., NE, and died October 02, 2006 in California.

age 88 - ALICE REBECCA9 PORTER nee DAVIS (MILES VICTOR8, REBECCA ELLA 'ELLEN'7 CHENOWETH, ELIAS6, WILLIAM E.5, ELIAS4, JOHN3, JOHN2, JOHN1) was born June 09, 1918 in Pennville, Jay Co., IN, and died January 22, 2007 in Upland, Grant Co., IN. She married RALPH H. PORTER 1941, son of GEORGE PORTER and LAURA ELLIOTT. He was born January 01, 1907 in Winchester, Randolph Co., IN, and died December 17, 1992.

age 79 - ZELLA JO9 KALB nee CHENOWETH (ALBERT WILSON 'WILSON'8, ALBERT WILLIAM7, ALBERT WHITE6, HENRY S.5, JAMES FRANCIS4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JOHN1) was born April 18, 1926 in Pineville, McDonald Co., MO, and died January 17, 2006. She married (1) ALFRED B. SMART. She married (2) KENNETH H. 'KENNY' KALB.

age 94 - LESTER VERNON9 CHENOWETH (CLARENCE RUBY8, WILLIAM ALBERT7, CHARLES WESLEY6, WILLIAM THOMAS5, WILLIAM4, ARTHUR3, ARTHUR2, JOHN1) was born July 18, 1912 in Glen Karn, Darke Co., OH, and died December 16, 2006 in Greenville, Darke Co., OH. He married NEVA ARLENE McCOY May 25, 1940. She was born November 22, 1913 in Wayne Co., IN, and died June 22, 2001 in Greenville, Darke Co., OH.

age 66 - RONALD DELANO SANDERS, son of JAMES SANDERS and MARY HURST, was born December 29, 1940 in Carmi, White Co., IL, and died December 30, 2006. He married JOAN ARLENE9 HAYS (VOYLES COBURN8, IRENE JANE 'JENNIE'7 WHITAKER, NEWTON J.6, BLANDFORD B.5, MARGARET ELIZABETH4 SEATON, RACHEL3 CHENOWETH, JOHN2, JOHN1)

age 63 - JOSEPH P. SHEPSKO was born July 13, 1942, and died June 25, 2006 in Christiana, New Castle Co., DE. He married IRMA FAYE9 CHENOWETH (LEE8, ROBERT PACE7, ISAAC NEWTON6, ARCHIBALD S.5, NICHOLAS4, JOHN3, RICHARD2, JOHN1)

age 89 - HAZEL LENORA CHENOWETH nee BALDWIN, daughter of CLYDE BALDWIN and ELSIE HALE, was born October 19, 1917 in Randolph Co., IN, and died December 04, 2006 in Winchester, Randolph Co., IN. She married REGINALD FOCH 'RED'9 CHENOWETH (LEO 'WHEELER'8, CHRISTIAN EBBY 'CHRIS'7, WILLIAM COLUMBUS 'LUM'6, WILLIAM THOMAS5, WILLIAM4, ARTHUR3, ARTHUR2, JOHN1) December 25, 1943 in Winchester, Randolph Co., IN. He was born August 28, 1918 in Randolph Co., IN.

age 95 - DUDLEY PORTER8 CULPEPPER (IDA7 CHENOWETH, WILLIAM ANDREW6, RICHARD5, RICHARD B.4, JOHN3, ARTHUR2, JOHN1) was born April 25, 1911 in Henry Co., TN, and died January 22, 2007 in Palmyra, Montgomery Co., TN. He married (1) ROBIE L. TAYLOR. He married (2) ROSE MAE DARNELL

age 90 - MABLE M. CHENOWETH nee CONNER was born February 12, 1916, and died January 05, 2007. She married ELMO CHARLES8 CHENOWETH (CHARLES NELSON7, WILLIAM C.6, WILLIAM5, THOMAS4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) February 15, 1936 in Danville, Vermilion Co., IL. He was born September 02, 1913 in Vermilion Co., IL, and died October 1976 in Indiana.

age - 58 TIMOTHY SCOTT 'TIMM' STAHLY, son of VERNON STAHLY and FRANCES MINER. was born May 10, 1949 in Huron, Beadle Co., SD, and died February 27, 2007 in Iowa City, Johnson Co., IA. He married SHARON K. 'SHERRY'9 CHENOWETH (ORVILLE GLENN8, WALTER7, NELSON6, WILLIAM5, THOMAS4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) August 13, 1966 in Mitchell, Davison Co., SD. She was born September 02, 1948 in Huron, Beadle Co., SD, and died July 09, 2004 in Ames, Story Co., IA.

age 83 - JOHN WILLIAM8 FRANCK, JR. (ALLIE IRENE7 CHENOWETH, FINIS EDWIN6, JAMES FOSTER5, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN4, THOMAS3, THOMAS2, JOHN1) was born September 28, 1923 in Denton Co., TX, and died February 23, 2007 in Lake Dallas, Denton Co., TX. He married (2) ANNA FERRELL

age 63 - DERINDA MARCELLA 'DEMI' MURPHY, daughter of ARTHUR and MAUDE MURPHY, was born March 04, 1933 in Corning, Perry Co., OH, and died January 12, 2007. She married GLENN THOMAS 'TOM'8 CHENOWETH (JOHN CARL7, REASON COLONY 'REESE'6, ARTHUR5, JOSEPH4, ARTHUR3, THOMAS2, JOHN1) May 17, 1952. He was born April 07, 1928 in Springboro, Warren Co., OH, and died April 24, 2005 in Berekley Co., SC.

age 87 - AUTUMN FELTON FARRAR nee FIELDS, daughter of JAMES & EDITH FIELDS, was born September 27, 1919, and died December 21, 2006 in Topeka, Shawnee Co., KS. She married MAX CLIFFORD8 FARRAR (ERNEST CLIFFORD7, WILLIAM HENRY6, MALINDA HORATIO5 CHENOWETH, JOHN FOSTER4, ELIJAH3, THOMAS2, JOHN1) June 25, 1943 in McPherson, McPherson Co., KS. He was born November 19, 1917 in Kansas, and died November 18, 2003.

age 88 - HELEN8 RAU nee SIMEN (BEATRICE7 CHENOWETH, GEORGE HARRISON6, GIDEON5, JACOB4, ABRAHAM3, THOMAS2, JOHN1) was born October 15, 1918 in Marinette, Marinette Co., WI, and died February 16, 2007 in Washington, Tazewell Co., IL. She married WILBUR RAU September 16, 1940 in Decatur, Macon Co., IL. He was born September 23, 1914, and died August 1983 in Illinois.

age 84 - MILDRED R. CHENOWETH nee ALEKSICH was born March 29, 1922, and died January 03, 2007. She married DONALD HOWARD 'BUD'8 CHENOWETH (ORA RAYMOND7, JOHN ARTHUR6, ABRAHAM JOHN5, JOHN4, ABRAHAM3, THOMAS2, JOHN1) He was born June 01, 1914 in Ohio, and died April 13, 1981 in Michigan.

age 88 - AUDA BERNICE8 BRATCHER nee CHENOWETH (DELNER WILLIAM7, JOHN WESLEY6, WILLIAM5, JOEL4, ABRAHAM3, THOMAS2, JOHN1) was born December 03, 1918 in Gentry Co., MO, and died January 06, 2007 in Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO. She married RALPH B. BRATCHER

age 94 - HELEN GRAY8 SHULTZ nee CHENOWETH (CLEO NELSON7, JOHN WESLEY6, WILLIAM5, JOEL4, ABRAHAM3, THOMAS2, JOHN1) was born April 05, 1912 in Maysville, DeKalb Co., MO, and died January 24, 2007 in Fort Dodge, Webster Co., IA. She married FRED MORRISON SHULTZ May 18, 1930. He was born September 02, 1911, and died September 19, 1992 in Fort Dodge, Webster Co., IA.

**********************


Did you know?

  • Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only ....Ladies Forbidden"...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
  • Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.
  • Men can read smaller print than women can, but women can hear better.
  • Coca-Cola was originally green.
  • It is impossible to lick your elbow.
  • The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska
  • The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this.....)
  • The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
  • The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $16,400
  • The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour: 61,000
  • Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
  • The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer
  • The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
  • Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history.
  • Spades: King David Hearts: Charlemagne Clubs: Alexander the Great Diamonds: Julius Caesar
  • 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
  • If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four leg on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
  • Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.


John Chenoweth(1)

By Gregory George "Greg" Wulker
(Milford, OH)
(Margaret Mary8 Lacy, Charles Edgar7 Lacy, Martha Jane6 Chenoweth, Joseph5, Absolom4, William3, William2, John1)

In the last CFA newsletter, I wrote about Mary Calvert Chenoweth and her ancestry, which now appears to be more documented than her husband John. In the past few months since the last newsletter, I have concentrated on the " gap" in years where John Chenoweth and his family might have been living, working, and raising his large family.

The years of 1715/1716, John is found in the estate settlement of trader John Bowne. John Bowne was a large land owner and owned a trading post at Matawan, near the Jersey shore. He was trading everything from furs to implements and tools, and tobacco, and shipping them to England by way of Barbados and Jamaica. John Chenoweth was evidently dealing with Bowne, either personally or representing someone else.

The period from 1716 to 1726 draws a complete blank for sightings of John Chenoweth and his family. In 1726, he does appear with his son John at the Quaker marriage of Roger Kirk and Jane Bowen. The location of this event took place at the "Brick Meetinghouse", at Nottingham, Pa., now located in Cecil Co., Maryland. The survey of Mr. Mason and Mr. Dixon in 1768, caused the Meetinghouse to be located in Cecil County near present day Rising Sun, Maryland.

It would not be unusual for John and John II to visit this Meetinghouse, or to travel from a distance to attend this marriage. However, it is my belief that John(1) had already removed from Bristol, Pa and the Burlington New Jersey area, and may have been residing in the area of Cecil County Maryland. Cecil County was a main thoroughfare from points north such as Philadelphia to the Maryland shore. Shipping ports and industry were beginning to draw people south into Maryland. I read that two pounds of tobacco could buy you an acre of ground in some parts.

In 1727, one of the great changes to occur in this area of Cecil County and to boost the economic growth of Maryland was the organization of The Principio Company. Lord Baltimore allowed English investors to plan and organize the building of a blast furnace, and to make use of the iron ore found near the town of North East, Maryland. It's location to the Chesapeake bay was ideal for shipping . Slaves and indentured servants comprised the majority of the workforce. Ironmasters and skilled blacksmiths ran the daily operations. The Principio Furnace brought a great economy to this area and the pig iron (blooms) as they were called, were shipped back to England for finished wares, and sent back to America, thus creating another tax upon the colonists.

It is my opinion that John Chenoweth may have been involved in this operation at Principio. The distance from the Nottingham area to the Furnace operation at North East was ten and one half miles. Later on, a new investor appeared at Principio, and his name was Augustine Washington, father to George. Most of Augustine's wealth came from his investments at Principio, and another furnace in Virginia. The construction of Mt. Vernon was funded mostly from Principio Furnace.

I remember a story here from one of our Chenoweth sources that John Chenoweth made some silver buckles for George Washingtons' shoes. Chenoweth folklore or fact? Or was it for Augustine? John Chenoweth was in Frederick County Virgina, but he was deceased by 1746. George Washington did survey at the age of 16 in Frederick County, but not until 1748. So there is at least a possibility that this event was true, if John Chenoweth was around Principio, and the fact is known that George Washington did visit Principio in his youth.

So, it brings me back to the land of John Chenoweth, which he mentioned in his will. This time frame would precede any Harford or Baltimore county involvement of John Chenoweth and his family. Could John(1) have owned land in Cecil County? I am in the process of searching, but no luck yet. What we do know of John(1) was that he was living on leased land in the Back River Upper Hundred in 1737. He had likely come to the Baltimore area prior to 1730 when his son John(2) married. John's home was near present day Towson and nowhere near the Gunpowder manor estate of Lord Baltimore, which is now called the "Long Green Valley", and appears to be a beautiful area of Maryland.

I still have hopes of finding mention of John Chenoweth in some remote or old records, and will continue to concentrate on the area of Cecil County, Md.


GRANDSONS OF JOHN1
By Jon Egge, WA
(11th Installment of a series - This is the 3rd installment on the grandchildren.)
Menu of previous series articles

Thomas, a bit different

Though there were 4 grandsons named Thomas, the name seemed to have struggled in the older lines and that of Thomas, Jr. is by far the bigger and most straight forward of the 3rd generations lines that descend. Only recent genealogy has resurrected the lines of all four of the Thomas named grandsons. In Cora's book all four would occupy about a total of one page. The Harris book greatly expanded on the lines of Thomas, Jr from a short paragraph to 29 pages. This of course was the ancestor of Shirley Harris. The two Baltimore Thomas named sons of Arthur and Richard get 2 pages each in The Harris book but are misplaced one for the other, a mistake carried over from Cora's structure. Thomas of John occupies about 6 pages in Harris, but as Cora's structure misplaced the children of one of his sons, there are another 8 pages to this line to be found. All 4 of these Thomas named grandchildren married in Maryland, Thomas Jr. in Allegany Co., John's son Thomas in Baltimore Co., Richard's son Thomas in Harford Co., MD and Arthur's son Thomas probably in Frederick Co. Thomas, Jr would strike west with his siblings settling in Ohio. John's son Thomas would go to Virginia and the two Baltimore Co. Thomas grandsons would live and die in Harford and Frederick Counties respectively.

Cora Hiatt presented John's son Thomas in less than a short paragraph. Thanks to work by Shannon Graham and several other descendants of Nicholas Ruxton Chenoweth, the Harris book resurrected at least the line of Nicholas, one of the 5 children. This Thomas line seems to be composed of very independent families. Thomas himself, unlike his siblings, headed back to Baltimore from Virginia. There he married well to Rachel Moore, the daughter of James Moore., Jr.. Thomas and Rachel had 4 children before her untimely death. Thomas remarried to Ann Carroll and left for Botetourt Co., VA. This was an area unconnected with any of the rest of the Chenoweth family. Thomas left his will here, naming his children. Today we know what happened to 3 of them. Nicholas, already mention, struck out for Gallatin Co., KY and later resettled in present day Williamson Co., IL. The daughter Elizabeth married Nathan Switzer and most of her descendants would remain in Botetourt Co., VA and can be found today near Fincastle and Roanoke. Thanks to Greg Wulker and my uncle, Harry Holt Chenoweth, in 2005, my line of James Frances, was restored to its rightful place. James appears to have gone to Kentucky and died in the 1820s. His children would go to Ohio where Henry Safley, their grandfather had settled in Champaign Co. Two of the sons, Henry S. and John W. became doctors and relocated to Missouri. After the Civil War, Dr John W. would resettle in Texas. Harris says the daughter Mary, the daughter of Thomas, married in Lexington, KY in 1798, but it is puzzling why she would have been there at all since her siblings at the time were all back in Virginia. Nothing is known of what happened to Ann Carroll, the widow of Thomas, or their son, John Thomas.

THOMAS3 CHENOWETH (JOHN2, JOHN1) was born 1737 in Baltimore Co., MD, and died May 08, 1780 in Botetourt Co. VA. He married (1) RACHEL RUXTON MOORE September 14, 1766 in St. Geo's Parish, Baltimore Co., MD, daughter of JAMES MOORE and HANNNAH WILMOTT. She was born January 08, 1747/48 in Baltimore Co., MD, and died 1775 in Baltimore Co., MD. He married (2) ANN CARROLL August 10, 1777 in Baltimore Co., MD. She was born Bet. 1732 - 1752.

Children of THOMAS CHENOWETH and RACHEL MOORE are:

  1. ELIZABETH4 CHENOWETH, b. April 08, 1768, Baltimore Co., MD; d. Aft. 1841; m. NATHAN SWITZER, November 17, 1791, Botetourt Co., VA; b. 1753, Botetourt Co., VA; d. September 13, 1841, Botetourt Co., VA.
  2. NICHOLAS RUXTON CHENOWETH, b. December 12, 1769, Baltimore Co., MD; d. Bet. 1837 - 1839, Franklin Co., IL (now Williamson Co.); m. MARY SWITZER, April 12, 1790, Botetourt Co., VA; b. 1770, Virginia; d. Abt. 1849, Williamson Co., IL.
  3. MARY CHENOWETH, b. September 08, 1772, Baltimore Co., MD; d. Unknown; m. WILLIAM WELCH, November 11, 1798, Bourbon Co., KY; b. Bet. 1757 - 1777; d. Unknown.
  4. JAMES FRANCIS CHENOWETH, b. 1774, Maryland; d. Bef. 1825; m. (1) REBECCA SAFLEY, August 20, 1799, Botetourt Co., VA; b. November 18, 1784, Rockingham Co., VA; d. February 28, 1813, Botetourt Co., VA; m. (2) NANCY CRAWFORD, November 14, 1813, Botetourt Co., VA;

    Child of THOMAS CHENOWETH and ANN CARROLL is:

  5. JOHN THOMAS4 CHENOWETH, b. 1778, Botetourt Co., VA.

Thomas the son of Richard is misplaced in both Hiatt and Harris. He is in fact switched with Arthur's son Thomas. We know so very little about Richard's sons, and though we at least have lines from this Thomas that descend to present day, we know little about him. He married Rachel Norris and is said to have had 4 children. We know that the daughter Harriet married James Wilson, but we know little of happened to her. In 1850 she is living with her husband in Baltimore, but they are both over 50 years of age and no children, if there were any, are living with them. We know nothing of the supposed children Elizabeth and Joseph. So what is known of this line comes down from one line of the son Benjamin Norris who married Rebecca Pierce in Harford Co., MD. Only 14 Chenoweth males would be born to this line and the last of these, James William Chenoweth died in 1973. He was a musician and never married, the only son of Andrew James Chenoweth and Mary Elizabeth Haas, though he had 8 sisters. As thin as the line of Benjamin Norris Chenoweth is, I have made some great cousin contacts in this line. First and foremost is Elmer Haile, Jr. who has helped set the early picture of John Chenoweth straight and helped to sort out the Baltimore lines of the families of Richard and Arthur. I can't say enough about his patience and precise genealogy knowledge. Elmer now in his 90s came out with his family to the Oregon Reunion. He rejoined us last summer for one evening at the Baltimore Reunion. Harry Russell Schuppner, Jr. of California has been a great help with the lines of Benjamin's son William Robinson and more recently Kay Bogart, whose husband Barry descends from Benjamin's son Washington had generously helped Pete to secure over a third of SSA applications for the remaining unknown listings.

THOMAS3 CHENOWETH (RICHARD2, JOHN1) was born Abt. 1756 in Baltimore Co., MD. He married RACHEL NORRIS January 01, 1788 in St John's, Hartford Co., MD, daughter of THOMAS NORRIS. She was born Abt. 1761 in Harford Co., MD, and died Unknown.

Children of THOMAS CHENOWETH and RACHEL NORRIS are:

  1. ELIZABETH4 CHENOWETH, b. Aft. 1788.
  2. BENJAMIN NORRIS CHENOWETH, b. 1797, Harford Co., MD; d. Bef. 1860; m. REBECCA PIERCE, February 20, 1822, Harford Co., MD; b. Bet. 1792 - 1804; d. Bef. 1850.
  3. JOSEPH CHENOWETH, b. 1797.
  4. HARRIET CHENOWETH, b. Bet. 1800 - 1804, Harford Co., MD; d. Unknown; m. JAMES WILSON, November 06, 1822; b. Abt. 1790, Maryland;

Arthur's son Thomas was not only misplaced by Cora, but his children were skipped and the grandchild of his son Thomas substituted. Thomas married Elizabeth Carter and though they had 11 children, very little is known of descending lines. In Cora's book, Arthur's son Thomas gets the biggest play of any of the 4 Thomas grandsons, albeit mistakes abound. As stated above, he is mistaken as the son of Richard and his children are skipped entirely and in their place are the children of his son Thomas, a generation skip much similar to that of Jonathan. To accomplish this Cora claimed that Thomas lived 106 years, a fact which Richard Harris casts doubt on even while offering no solution. The correction of this mess was made possible by Dorinda Shepley who first presented me with the court proceedings that rose from the estate of Thomas after his death which clearly defined his children. Then Elmer Haile, Jr. stepped in clearly proving by land records that this Thomas who lived in Frederick Co., MD was Arthur's son and that his son Thomas had married twice. It was Thomas, Jr. that moved into Baltimore City where his descendants would thrive. One, William Edward, founded the funeral home of what became Chenoweth and Sons. Thomas married Elizabeth Carter, the daughter of John J. and Mary Carter. He settled in Frederick Co. and had 11 children before dying in 1801 shortly after his father Arthur. We know very little of what happened to these children. The oldest Absolom eventual went west to Kentucky, and is a possible candidate for some unknown lines found in Indiana. The daughter Mary married a Doll. Her one known daughter married Dennis Etzler, the Baltimore ancestors of Dorinda. Ruth married Michael Wall, Rebecca married Alexander Coulter and Chloe Matilda married Jacob Houck, but nothing is known of what happened to any of them. Elizabeth married Eli Ridgely Griffith and we know there were 3 children. Eli tried to swindle his sister-in-law Mary Doll out of her property, and when exposed left his family for Kentucky. Sarah, Eleanor and Harriet died as young women. Enoch eventually married Sarah Ann Armitage in 1830 and had one known daughter. He could possible account for the unknown line of Thomas J. in Baltimore. Thomas, Jr., already mentioned, carries most of the present day line marrying first Deborah Buckman and after her death, Elizabeth Airey.

THOMAS3 CHENOWETH (ARTHUR2, JOHN1) was born March 31, 1753 in Baltimore Co., MD, and died Abt. 1801. He married ELIZABETH CARTER Abt. 1774, daughter of JOHN CARTER and MARY ?. She was born Bef. 1758, and died Abt. 1835.

Children of THOMAS CHENOWETH and ELIZABETH CARTER are:

  1. ABSOLOM4 CHENOWETH, b. May 10, 1775, Baltimore Co., MD; d. Kentucky.
  2. MARY CHENOWETH, b. September 20, 1776, Baltimore Co., MD; m. ? DOLL; b. Bet. 1761 - 1781.
  3. RUTH CHENOWETH, b. September 30, 1778, Frederick Co., MD; d. Unknown; m. MICHAEL WALL, March 29, 1794, Baltimore Co., MD; b. Abt. 1772; d. December 1838.
  4. REBECCA CHENOWETH, b. February 28, 1780, Frederick Co., MD; d. Unknown; m. ALEXANDER COULTER, Baltimore Co., MD; b. Bet. 1765 - 1885; d. Unknown.
  5. ELIZABETH CHENOWETH, b. February 07, 1782, Frederick Co., MD; m. ELI RIDGELY GRIFFITH, May 05, 1802, Baltimore Co., MD; b. Bef. 1771.
  6. SARAH CHENOWETH, b. October 13, 1783, Frederick Co., MD; d. 1811.
  7. ELEANOR CHENOWETH, b. May 26, 1785, Frederick Co., MD; d. Abt. 1801.
  8. THOMAS CHENOWETH, b. August 05, 1787, Frederick Co., MD; d. July 31, 1846, Baltimore Co., MD; m. (1) DEBORAH BUCKMAN, April 18, 1811, Baltimore, Baltimore Co., MD; b. Abt. 1791; d. July 16, 1826; m. (2) ELIZABETH AIREY, December 18, 1829, Baltimore Co., MD; b. Abt. 1803; d. Unknown.
  9. CHLOE MATILDA CHENOWETH, b. October 23, 1789, Frederick Co., MD; d. Unknown; m. JACOB HOUCK, June 17, 1812, Baltimore Co., MD; b. Bet. 1774 - 1794; d. Unknown.
  10. HARRIET CHENOWETH, b. December 04, 1793, Frederick Co., MD; d. Abt. 1801.
  11. ENOCH CHENOWETH, b. January 25, 1798, Frederick Co., MD; m. SARAH ANN ARMITAGE, October 07, 1830, Baltimore City, Baltimore Co., MD;

Today, much is known of Thomas, Jr. He served in the American Revolution from Old Towne in present day Allegany Co., MD. Here he married Cassandra Foster while his brother Elijah married her sister Rachel. These two couples would migrate together to Mason Co., KY and eventually settled in adjacent farms in the southwest corner of Franklin Co., OH. Thomas, Jr. and Cassandra had 9 children. Six of these would found strong lines. All of them moved west, while many of the descendants of Elijah remained in the Franklin Co. area. Thomas Jr. died in 1814 at the age of 60 in Franklin Co., but his wife Cassandra lived into her late 80s dying in Vermillion Co., OH. In the mid 1840s she is known to have been in Taney Co., MO where her sons, Benjamin and Joseph lived. John, their oldest son, married his cousin Elizabeth 'Betsy' Foster and moved to Darke Co., OH after the death of his father. Here they raised 13 children who would all marry. Ruth married Ira Parrish and went to Missouri where her two brothers Joseph and Benjamin Franklin had settled. After Benjamin's death most of his children would end up in Texas. The daughter Rachel married Elijah Lowe and migrated to Indiana. She would die in Kansas at the age of 81. Thomas, III married Rachel Perrin and also settled in Vermillion Co., IN. They had 16 children, but only 6 would marry and only 5 of these would have children. Cassandra, another daughter of Thomas and Cassandra is said to have married twice, the 2nd time to James Perrin, but no children are known to exist. The son, Richard Thomas Chenoweth, is said to have married Ruth Perrin, but nothing of what happened to them is known.

THOMAS3 CHENOWETH, JR. (THOMAS2, JOHN1) was born September 10, 1753 in Frederick Co., VA, and died August 17, 1814 in Pleasant Twp., Franklin Co., OH. He married CASSANDRA FOSTER March 17, 1785 in Allegany Co., MD, daughter of JOHN FOSTER and ELIZABETH LEWIS. She was born December 30, 1762 in Allegheny Co., MD, and died January 1850 in Vermillon, Co., IN.

Children of THOMAS CHENOWETH and CASSANDRA FOSTER are:

  1. JOHN C.4 CHENOWETH, b. December 23, 1785, Maryland; d. October 04, 1864, Tippecanoe Co., IN; m. ELIZABETH 'BETSY' FOSTER, September 06, 1807, Pleasant twp., Franklin Co., OH; b. July 16, 1789, Maryland; d. January 23, 1875, Darke Co., OH.
  2. RUTH CHENOWETH, b. April 21, 1787, Mason Co., KY; d. 1854, Polk Co., MO; m. IRA OWEN WINGFIELD WALKER PARRISH, December 29, 1814, Pleasant Twp., Franklin Co., OH; b. 1790, Virginia; d. 1873, Polk Co., MO.
  3. ELIZABETH CHENOWETH, b. February 04, 1788, Kentucky; d. Unknown.
  4. CASSANDRA 'ANN' CHENOWETH, b. March 31, 1790, Mason Co., KY; d. 1839; m. (1) ? CLARK; b. Bet. 1775 - 1795; d. Unknown; m. (2) JAMES PERRIN, June 02, 1828, Warren Co., IN; b. 1808; d. 1859.
  5. RACHEL CHENOWETH, b. October 24, 1792, Mason Co., KY; d. August 01, 1873, Kansas; m. ELIJAH LOWE, Ohio; b. November 29, 1786, Maryland; d. June 18, 1857, Vermillion Co., IN.
  6. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CHENOWETH, b. March 16, 1795, Mason Co., KY; d. 1856, Forsyth, Taney Co., MO; m. FANNY McKENZIE, March 13, 1817, Franklin Co., OH; b. May 10, 1800, Virginia; d. February 10, 1878, Dallas, Dallas Co., TX.
  7. RICHARD THOMAS CHENOWETH, b. 1797, Ross Co., OH (now Pike Co.); d. Unknown; m. RUTH PERRIN; b. Bet. 1782 - 1802; d. Unknown.
  8. THOMAS CHENOWETH III, b. November 02, 1800, Franklin Co., OH; d. February 13, 1859, Highland Twp., Vermillion Co., IN; m. RACHEL PERRIN, January 27, 1825, Franklin Co., OH; b. January 18, 1806, Ohio; d. December 28, 1866, Vermillion Co., IN.
  9. JOSEPH CHENOWETH, b. May 29, 1805, Franklin Co., OH; d. December 05, 1865, Polk Co., MO; m. ROSE ANN MITCHELL, October 24, 1837, Vermillion Co., IN; b. November 20, 1820, Kentucky; d. June 21, 1875, Polk Co., MO.

In 1850 there were 11 families and 83 people in the line of John's son Thomas. They were living in Virginia, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri. There were only 4 families and 14 people living in Baltimore and Harford Counties, MD from Richard's son Thomas. Not much larger, 5 families and 25 people of Arthur's son Thomas were living in Baltimore and Frederick Cos., MD. The families of Thomas, Jr in the 1850 Census were 28 with 152 people, larger than the other 3 combined. They lived in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Texas.


WELCOME TO THE CLAN '06

The following individuals were reported to the web site as new arrivals to the Chenoweth Clan during 2005. Individuals are listed by birth month and their 2nd generation lineage is in parenthesis.

  • January: (JOHN) Colin Daniels Best
  • February: (JOHN) Arella Elaine Nagle, (RICHARD) Jaxson Lee Hale Chenoweth
  • March: (JOHN): Connor Christian James, Caroline Mae Comeau
  • April: (JOHN): Anna Marie Smith, Ava Justine Ridgeway, Ainsley Allen Hanes, Duncan Morse Eggers, Cody James Albers, (WILLIAM) Logan Wayne Hankins, (THOMAS) Margaret Renee "Maggie"' Cordova"
  • May: (JOHN) Benjamin Henry Chenoweth
  • June: (ARTHUR) Riley Frances Meza, (THOMAS): Riley Joseph Whelan, Samantha Rae Yahr
  • July: (JOHN) Court Hunter Conway, (ARTHUR): Tara Elizabeth Schoeneman, Brandon Chenoweth
  • September: (JOHN) Mason Edwin Digman
  • October: (JOHN) Emily Ann Kerr
  • November: (JOHN) Ava Justine Ridgeway
  • December: (THOMAS) Channing Pearson Farrar
  • Birth Month not known: (JOHN) Alayna Grace Riddell

A MOMENT WITH THE WEBMASTER

[Jon] By Jon Egge
Cottage Lake, Woodinville, WA
Descendant of Dr Henry S.5 Chenoweth of Chillicothe, OH
JAMES FRANCIS4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JOHN1

Candace and the Chenowths of Arizona

There was a preference in the families of Washington Co., TN for naming sons "John A." This line descended from Richard's son John who died just before his father in Baltimore. I count six instances in the database and several more among their Chenoweth-Hale cousins. John Addison 'Gus' Chenowth is a bit of an enigma. A grandson of John's son Nicholas, his parents, John Augustus Chenoweth and Abigail Hunt appear to have died while he was young. They are not found in the 1850 Census. 'Gus' as he was called is not found in a Census until 1870 at age 35 in Arizona. He is known by the will of his grandfather Nicholas who died in 1851 mentioning the three children of his son John as follows: "Ruth, Henry Preston and John Addison Chinowth, heirs of John Chenowth - $50 each." No one knows what happened to Ruth or Henry, but John Addison would go on to found quite a large and interesting family in the Southwest. Today, the family spells it's name Chenowth, one of the distinctive Tennessee line spellings we have today.

The website had been posted less than a month when Candace Chenowth Chase contacted me. She was my first contact in the line of Richard(2), but I was way too green to begin to unravel her query as to where the family belonged. I accordingly shipped this off to Peter who after a few months connected Candace's grandfather, Charles Augustus Chenowth, to John Addison and Mary Murray. Today this connection, especially given the spelling would have been done in a matter of minutes. This family is found on page 271 of the Harris book. Over the years since I have been in contact with 4 descendants of four of the other six sons. In all Gus and Mary had 13 children born in Arizona and New Mexico. Charles Murray Chenowth told me that Gus was in St Louis, MO as a young man and came out to California in 1850. He began to run freight between California and Arizona and married Mary Martin Murray in Maricopa Co. on August 10, 1871. She was the daughter of Pinckney Murray and Margaret E. White from Mississippi.

A most curious story about this family was told to me by James Augustus Simmons. Jim was born a Chenowth, his father was Isaac Earl Chenowth, but Jim changed his name when he grew up. Howard Pinckney Chenowth, his uncle, had been involved in a drunken gunfight in Silver City, NM in 1904. Apparently Howard had been blowing off steam from a hard day in a local saloon. Confronted by the law, he had shot and killed both Marshall Kilburn and Deputy Sheriff Perfecto Rodriquez in a gunfight out on the street. In a court transcript furnished me by Jim, The Marshall testified in a death bed deposition.

"I William H. Kilburn Marshal of the town of Silver City, County of Grant,etc . . .believing myself to be beyond probabilities of recover and fully imbued with the knowledge of impending death make this my foregoing declaration as to the cause of my injuries.

I was in bed up at my house and I heard two shots and I got up and put on my clothes and shoes and came down there through China Town and saw two fellows Howard Chenowth and Mart Kennedy going up the street with Elmo Murray so I was probably four or five feet from them when Kennedy said 'Lets kill the son of a bitch'. The moon was shinning and it was light and I could see them. When Howard Chenowth fired and shot and I fell like a beef and hit the back of my head on a rock and then when he had gone on just a few steps Howard Chenowth said `Ain't I a brave one.' I tried to call them but I could not make them hear and they went to Dodson's corner ....."

Sentenced to 54 years in prison, the Chenowth family broke Howard out of jail and after hiding for about a year in the hills, Howard went to South America where he married Sarah Aloida Yule, a native of Uruguay. They had 7 children and Sarah died in 1930 in Brazil. After a number of years, the family managed to obtain a pardon for Howard and he returned to the US with his children, several of who still live in New Mexico. Howard died in Tucson in 1947.

If you have ever seen a Chenowth off road vehicle (a means of transportation used in the movie "Three Kings" starring George Clooney), descendants of Clive Hale Chenowth developed them.

JOHN ADDISON 'GUS'6 CHENOWTH (JOHN AUGUSTUS5, NICHOLAS4, JOHN3, RICHARD2, JOHN1) was born October 04, 1834 in Washington Co., TN, and died April 25, 1913 in Hidalgo Co., NM. He married MARY MARTIN MURRAY August 10, 1871 in Maricopa Co., Arizona Territory, daughter of PINCKNEY MURRAY and MARGARET WHITE. She was born June 04, 1851 in Pontatoc Co., MS, and died July 27, 1943 in McNeal, Chochise Co., AZ.

Children of MARY MURRAY and JOHN CHENOWTH are:

  1. ORLENA MAY3 CHENOWTH, b. August 17, 1873, Maricopa Co., Arizona Territory; d. January 05, 1877, Maricopa Co., Arizona Territory.
  2. IDA P. CHENOWTH, b. Abt. November 14, 1874, Maricopa Co., Arizona Territory; d. Abt. November 22, 1874, Maricopa Co., Arizona Territory.
  3. HENRY LEE CHENOWTH, b. June 25, 1875, Maricopa Co., Arizona Territory; d. September 29, 1876, Maricopa Co., Arizona Territory.
  4. IVY PEARL CHENOWTH, b. August 02, 1877, Maricopa Co., Arizona Territory; d. May 07, 1911; m. ? BISBEE, Bef. 1904; b. Bet. 1862 - 1882.
  5. CHARLES AUGUSTUS CHENOWTH, b. January 07, 1879, Phoenix, Maricopa Co., Arizona Territory; d. June 05, 1948, Douglas, Chochise Co., AZ; m. GENEVIEVE K. SCHLESINGER, September 06, 1928, Deming, Luna Co., NM; b. August 11, 1907, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., WI; d. March 1985, Tuscon, Maricopa Co., AZ.
  6. HOWARD PINCKNEY CHENOWTH, b. May 02, 1881, Maricopa Co., Arizona Territory; d. February 09, 1947, Tucson, Pima Co., AZ; m. SARAH ALOIDA YULE; b. October 22, 1894, URUGUAY; d. 1930, Aqua Limpa, BRAZIL.
  7. LOYOLA AGNES 'OLA' CHENOWTH, b. August 28, 1882, New Mexico Territory; d. September 18, 1978, California; m. JAMES ROBERT MARTYR, JR.; b. February 07, 1875, Glasgow, Howard Co., MO; d. September 16, 1954, probably O'Neill, NM.
  8. CLIVE HALE CHENOWTH, b. April 21, 1884, New Mexico Territory; d. July 05, 1935, Lordsburg, Hidalgo Co., NM; m. EMMA JEAN WASHBURN, Aft. 1920; b. August 30, 1885; d. June 01, 1978.
  9. KARL MURRAY CHENOWTH, b. May 22, 1886, New Mexico Territory; d. December 02, 1889, New Mexico Territory.
  10. MARY FRANCES CHENOWTH, b. September 16, 1888, New Mexico Territory; d. January 07, 1980; m. JESSE SIMMONS; b. September 16, 1885, Texas; d. January 1969.
  11. EULA LEE CHENOWTH, b. November 19, 1889, New Mexico Territory; d. August 1935.
  12. ISAAC EARL CHENOWTH, b. December 29, 1891, Lordsburg, Hidalgo Co., New Mexico Territory; d. August 23, 1923, Hidalgo Co., NM; m. JULIA L. HUMPHRIES; b. 1902, Texas; d. Bef. 1926.
  13. ROBERT GRAHAM CHENOWTH, b. September 10, 1893, Shakespeare, Hidalgo Co., New Mexico Territory; d. October 19, 1978, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co. TX; m. (1) EDITH VIVIAN HUNTER, August 10, 1920, Douglas, Cochise Co., AZ; b. December 08, 1898, Yoakum, DeWitt Co., TX; d. September 08, 1975, Truth or Consequences, NM; m. (2) ORA ALICE (REDMON) ?, Private; b. May 18, 1906; d. November 1985, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co. TX.

The Sheets of Sarah revisited, lines of Archibald

In March 2005 (Christmas Presents) I wrote of a contact with the family of Eldridge Sheets. The Sheet family extends from Sarah Chenoweth, the one daughter of Archibald, one of the thinnest 4th generation lines in the database. Sarah married Jacob Sheets in Washington Co., TN. They had five children described in the Harris book on page 260. Additional information on this family is found in the Haile research of Denzil Mauldin. The family moved to Hardin Co., KY after the 1830 Census. Both Sarah and Jacob died in the 1840s. In the 1850 Census two of the children, Eldridge and Elizabeth are living with other families in Hardin Co. Other children were Jane, Samuel and Archie. The son Samuel is not found until the 1860 Census where he is found living with the family of Bernard McCoy and Anne Withers. Four years later Sam would marry their daughter Belle. Sam's sister Elizabeth had married Hartwell Chandler. There is a listing in the 1860 Census of Hardin Co. of a 30 year old A. Sheets born in Kentucky. This may be Archie. As described in the March newsletter, Eldridge migrated to Texas where he is found in the 1870 and 1880 Censuses of Hill Co. In July of 2005, Pete found a World Family Tree, depicting the family of Jane Sheets. By Haile research we knew that she had married a Withers. This tree listed her husband as Alfonso B. Withers and Jane's full name was Providence Jane Sheets. They had married on February 14, 1850. In the 1860 Census they are found in Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY. Alfonso died in 1862 and the Withers children appear back in Hardin Co. in 1880 living with their aunt Elizabeth Chandler, a widow by then, who never had any children.

PROVIDENCE JANE6 SHEETS (SARAH5 CHENOWETH, ARCHIBALD4, JOHN3, RICHARD2, JOHN1) was born November 03, 1827 in Tennessee, and died March 13, 1875. She married ALFONSO B. WITHERS February 14, 1850. He was born February 22, 1817 in Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., KY, and died December 24, 1862 in Grassy Pond, Jefferson Co., KY.

Children of PROVIDENCE SHEETS and ALFONSO WITHERS are:

  1. EUGENE B.7 WITHERS, b. January 20, 1851, West Point, Hardin Co., KY; d. November 19, 1926; m. ANNIE DORSEY, September 25, 1886, Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., KY; b. December 1856, Kentucky.
  2. SANDFORD WITHERS, b. January 23, 1853, Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., KY; d. December 31, 1868, Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY.
  3. ANNA E. WITHERS, b. April 23, 1856, Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY; d. March 15, 1925, Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., KY; m. JOHN W. APPLEGATE, Abt. 1880; b. November 1842, Kentucky.
  4. WILLIAM A. WITHERS, b. August 07, 1858, Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY; d. Weatherford, Parker Co., TX; m. NANCY V. 'NANNIE' ?, Abt. 1899; b. February 1872, Texas.
  5. JENNIE B. WITHERS, b. February 13, 1862, Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY; m. VIRGIL I. 'VIRGIE ' WARDEN, December 24, 1884, Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., KY; b. March 03, 1854, Kentucky; d. October 07, 1916.

The line remains thin. Jennie, who married Virgil Warden, never had children. Eugene had a son who died young. William moved to Texas and married in his 40s, fathering one daughter, Mildred. Anna had 7 children and the Applegates are found in the 1880 and 1900 Censuses of Hardin Co. Perhaps one day we can extend this line further.

William's will, another field trip by Greg

One of the remarkable things that cousin ties over the years has done is enable me to reach out to people who are research savvy and in the right location to further our knowledge of the Chenoweth family. Right before the Baltimore Chenoweth Reunion a question came up on the will of William(2). This was the only one of the four 2nd generation wills that I had not obtained to be posted at the website. Of the 5 sons, Thomas the youngest does not appear to have had a will. Maybe it existed, but it has never been found. In fact there are very few records of the Thomas family from their stay near Old Towne, MD. It was probably still part of Frederick Co. when Thomas first moved here from Virginia before it was formed into Washington Co. Today it is Allegany Co. We know from the remarkable writings of Thomas Scott, a grandson of Thomas, that Thomas died here on the banks of the Potomac. While no one yet has located a will, we do have a family bible page that describes his children and then there is the remarkable works of Joel, a grandson of Thomas.

The existing wills are found, two in Baltimore of Arthur and Richard, and two in Virginia, John's in Frederick Co. and William's in Berkeley Co. The controversy swirling around William's will begins with Cora Hiatt who said nothing of his son Isaac being in the will. Harris included Isaac and said Isaac was there but Marie Eberle in her Carter Cousin II book again questioned Isaac as the son of William. It was time to end the uncertainties and get the will to post at the site. My 7th cousin Greg Wulker responded to the call. It was not the first time that I have asked Greg to do some leg work for me. Rosella Vohs had often told me of Greg's prowess in haunting court houses for their dusty records. I had witnessed this in person right before the Elkins reunion when Greg met me in Winchester and took me to the treasures stored in the court houses of Frederick and Berkeley Cos. That was in 2002 and it was my first taste of courthouse work. And was it fruitful. We mined some great details. First we proved my theory that the William who married Elizabeth Hutchison was William, Jr. This was found in the land record sale of William's property, tying the land to that portion he had received from his father's will and including the name and signature of his wife Elizabeth. Another gem was the land record that gave a 1/5 share of Isaac's land to his son Isaac J, born after Isaac's young death. Then there was the sale of Absolom, Jr's land to brother James as Absolom left for the Kentucky frontier. There are so many records of the Chenoweths stay in the late 1700s and early 1800s in these areas that one could spend days going through these remarkable records.

Greg's second field trip on my behest was in the fall of 2005 when he traveled to the Champaign Co., OH courthouse and obtained the land sales between the Chenoweth children of Rebecca Safley and their uncle, William Safley. This had been the long sought proof of my ancestor Henry's tie to James Francis and the line of Thomas of Botetourt Co., VA. As you can see, I owe Greg a large debt. But now here I was calling on him again to settle the question of Isaac in William's will by swinging out of his way on his way to the Baltimore Reunion to obtain this elusive will. William is Greg's own ancestor and like always Greg was raring to go. Wow. This was not only extra hours of driving, but in the Martinsburg courthouse there is no benefit of modern technology used. One has to transcribe the cryptic cursive documents by hand. William's will ran four pages and then there was the estate accounting. I was esthetic when Greg, beaming from ear to ear, arrived Wednesday in Baltimore pages in hand. Isaac was clearly there. So was the proof of the daughter Mary Sutton that Greg had remembered reading in the estate papers with the line "to cash paid Mary Sutton her legacy". Mary had been married long before William died, but William had not included the married name of his daughters. In 1791, the daughter Anne was still referred to as Ann Chenoweth in receiving her share, so whatever her age at this point, she had not married. In the Codicil William had instructed his son William to pay Anne 25 pound that she required and so it seems reasonable to assume that Anne was an adult when William died. She was still single 6 years later.

Another point, Hannah was not included in the settlement, though clearly mentioned in the will. My presumption would be that Hannah died without heir between 1785 and 1791. This appears to settle the question as to whether she had been the wife of Samuel Dunham, for Samuel and that Hannah had had several children. We had been in discussions with Dunham researchers about this possibility for some years and now it appears unlikely.

I have since typed up Greg's transcription and William's Will is posted to the site nestled among the wills of his brothers so that all can access this wonderful document. The whole family is indebted to Greg for his willing effort in this quest. While your looking through the wills, read them all, you will get a remarkable sense of the early Chenoweths and of their reverence to God and careful concern for their family and affairs. We are their ultimate legacy.

A Francis Family Found

I have always liked the story of Francis A. Chenoweth who came to the Pacific Northwest before 1850. That he is found in the 1860 Census of Island Co., WA near Coupeville, on Whidbey Island is a wonder. I have spent many a summer day there now for almost 60 years. My father built a home on Whidbey 53 years ago and we had stayed there at least 3 or 4 summers before that. Dad and my mother (the Chenoweth), began trekking to Whidbey in the 1930s. It is hard to imagine what it was like there in 1860. It was isolated of course, without the present-day bridge on the north and the half-hourly ferry on the south of this narrow 52 mile Island that sits in northern Puget Sound. Francis was a lawyer and had started West from Iowa when he lost his first wife in Wyoming. I have previously written about his son from this marriage, Sommerville, who retired from the cavalry to marry in Sonoma, Mexico and found the fine line that Daniel Fred and his family who have attended so many of the National Reunions descend from.

This fall I got a lead that led me to descendants from the second family of Francis, that by his wife Elizabeth Ann Findley who he had married on March 27, 1850 in Clackamas Co., OR having completed his journey on the Oregon Trail. Pete and I had done some Census work on his daughter Ella, who was born in Benton Co., OR in 1870 after Francis had left Island County. Ella had married John David Wells, who for a while was the police chief of Corvalis, OR, home of the Beavers of Oregon State University. We had tracked the family in part through 1930, but as there were 5 daughters and we lacked their marriages, we didn't get very far. This fall Lee Edward Merklin sent me some pages from the Henkle Book that describes the lines of Rachel Chenoweth who married Jesse Wood in such detail. To be more accurate it primarily describes the family of Elizabeth Wood, Rachel's daughter, as Elizabeth married Jacob Henkle, Jr. in Iowa and they came to Oregon in the early 1850s. Rachel had died in Illinois just 5 years after her marriage to Jesse, leaving him with two small children, both of whom would end up in Oregon. Rachel was a daughter of Elijah of Franklin Co., OH and an aunt to Francis whose parents, Thomas Chenoweth and Rachel Morgan also had settled in Vermilion Co., IL from Ohio where Rachel died. It seems likely that these two families who had moved to Iowa and then Oregon had kept in touch with each other. Francis had led the way, becoming part of the history of the Pacific Northwest.

Apparently there is a Henkle connection to John David Wells, the husband of Ella. According to the text, "John Wells was first appointed deputy sheriff of Benton County, Oregon; later served for 16 years as Chief of Police of Corvallis, Oregon; and prior to his retirement, Peace Officer for many years on the Oregon State College Campus." Dorothy Eilene Wells, their youngest daughter, married Dillard W. Burroughs, a native of Joplin, MO. The Henkle book listed a son, John David Burroughs. I found John in Renton, WA and he helped me update some of Ella's families. John is a 2nd cousin to Daniel Fred's uncle, Gilberto. It is good to have a new connection to some of the descendants of Francis. There is a lengthy write-up on Francis in the Harris book as Francis was a significant pioneer of the PNW. A paraphrased biography I did goes like this:

Francis A. Chenoweth was an early pioneer settler of the Pacific Northwest. Born in Clark Co., OH to Thomas Chenoweth and Rachel Morgan on July 12, 1819, he had matured in Illinois where his parents settled in the 1830s and as a young man set out west to Iowa where he married Hannah Logan on April 20, 1842 in Scott Co., IA. Shortly thereafter in 1843 he was admitted to the Wisconsin Bar. In 1849 he and Hannah headed west on the Oregon Trail. Hannah fell sick to cholera and died near Fort Laramie, leaving Francis with two small sons. Arriving in Oregon, Francis married a second time to Elizabeth Ann Findley on March 27, 1850 in Clackamas Co., OR. By 1851 Francis was operating a tramway which he built at the Cascades of Columbia to help settlers around this natural obstruction, and afterwards he would transport them down river in a steamer he owned called the "Henry". Francis became a representative to the Oregon Territorial Legislature in 1852 and together with Isaac Ebey connived that body to request the formation of the Olympia Territory from the area north of the Columbia River. This was approved by the US Congress in 1853 and became Washington Territory. Francis was appointed to be a Circuit Judge by President Pierce. With the formation of the first legislature for the Washington territory, Francis was elected Speaker of the House. That same year he was appointed an associate justice of the Washington Territory Supreme Court. This led to a confrontation with Governor Isaac Stevens in 1856 when the Governor attempted to use martial law to try five settlers by military court for "comforting Indians". Judge Chenoweth upheld their access to a trial by jury. In 1860 Francis was living near Coupeville on Whidbey Island. He would settle in Benton Co., OR by 1870 when he became a district attorney for Benton Co. and was elected as Speaker of the House to the Oregon Legislature.

ELLA S.6 CHENOWETH (FRANCIS A.5, THOMAS C.4, ELIJAH3, THOMAS2, JOHN1) was born September 09, 1870 in Benton Co., OR, and died November 27, 1934 in Corvallis, Benton Co., OR. She married JOHN DAVID WELLS December 28, 1887 in Kings Valley, Benton Co., OR, son of JOHN WELLS and ELIZABETH KING. He was born November 14, 1866 in Benton Co., OR, and died April 30, 1953 in Marion Co., OR.

Children of ELLA CHENOWETH and JOHN WELLS are:

  1. LULA ELIZABETH7 WELLS, b. January 31, 1890, Kings Valley, Benton Co., OR; d. April 18, 1987, Benton Co., OR; m. CECIL GRANT BLAKELY, May 26, 1920, Corvallis, Benton Co., OR; b. April 05, 1891, Roseburg, Douglas Co., OR.
  2. LELA MARY WELLS, b. January 31, 1890, Kings Valley, Benton Co., OR; d. November 14, 1985, Washington Co., OR; m. WILLIAM DANIEL JAMIESON, August 25, 1921; b. November 05, 1880, Oregon; d. August 24, 1963, Washington Co., OR.
  3. WILMA DORIS WELLS, b. June 29, 1909, Corvallis, Benton Co., OR; d. May 13, 2002, Florida; m. EDWIN PARKER, November 16, 1931; b. 1898, Albany, Linn Co., OR.
  4. DOROTHY EILENE WELLS, b. July 30, 1913, Corvallis, Benton Co., OR; m. DILLARD W. BURROUGHS, May 02, 1933, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA; b. July 15, 1910, Joplin, Jasper Co., MO; d. April 29, 2000.
  5. FRANCES ELLA WELLS, b. Aft. 1900, Benton Co., OR; d. May 24, 1904, Benton Co., OR.

A Newsletter Catch

In October of 2006, Pete Chenoweth sent me a letter he had received from Craig Allison of California. Craig had found the September 2004 article "3 roads to Pomeroy" on line that I had written after the Portland reunion. Craig was from the 3rd family line that I had noted that had settled in Garfield Co., WA. The Portland Reunion had been attended by both the late Wynn Henderson and Helen Bollen, who both descended from the first two lines from William of Frederick Co., VA, the oldest grandson of the family (John via his son Gabriel, and Jonathon, via his son Samuel). Now came Craig who was from William, via his son Abraham. What an amazing billboard the internet becomes, allowing cousins to find us in many different ways. The trick is to be listed near the top of a google search. I was glad that Craig found us and I took some time to explain this lineage to Craig. In doing so, I was caught by the many close relationships in this family.

Abraham Chenoweth had married his cousin Rachel Chenoweth in Jefferson Co., KY. Abraham's father William was Rachel's first cousin and Rachel's father, Arthur was accordingly William's uncle. There were 5 different lines from John Chenoweth, the oldest son, living then in the area around Jefferson Co., KY. Abraham and Rachel eventually settled in Pike Co., IL where so many of these same Kentucky families resettled. Their son William married Sarah Shoemaker. Sarah's parents were John Ritchie Shoemaker and Mary Lindsey. After the death of Mary Lindsey, John Shoemaker married Rachel's sister, Ann Chenoweth. William's brother Arthur married Sarah's sister, Mary Shoemaker. Both William and Arthur left in 1849 for the California Gold fields. William died in route in Utah and Arthur was never heard of again. Sarah and Mary were widowed with small children. The oldest son of Sarah and William was Abraham Van Meter Chenoweth. He married Martha Jane Dickinson in Livingston Co., MO. Six months later, Abraham's mother Sarah would marry Martha's father Harvey Dickenson. One would almost need a scoreboard to keep all these close family relationships straight. William Henry Chenoweth is listed as the first born son of Abraham and Martha in the Chenoweth book. Craig believes his name was William Harvey. That could well be the case as Henry and Harvey look a lot alike in cursive and Harvey was his grandfather. It was William that went to Washington, fathering 3 children in Walla Walla before the family moved to Garfield Co.

*********************>

IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY
TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS
FOR THE FUN AND COMRADERIE
OF THE 5th NATIONAL FAMILY REUNION
IN FT WAYNE, DURING
AUGUST 2008

DO YOU KNOW THESE PEOPLE?

In this issue we ask you to take a look at information that we have gathered with regards to Chenoweth marriages. Our database contains more than 900 marriages that we have been unable to place. As always with this column any help in identifying these individuals would be greatly appreciated.

Surname

Given

bdate

mDate

Mstate

Spouse

spouse bdate

Chenoweth

?

Hamann, Ella Mae

3 Dec 1908-IN

Chenoweth

?

Hicks, Merle

9 Mar 1913-KS

Chenworth

?

Kelley, Ella

1875

Chenowith

?

Marsh, Minnie

27 Nov 1899

Chenoweth

?

Montgomery, Dorothy

Chenoweth

?

Pendarvis, Kathy

Cheneworth

?

Rosenkrans, Ester

Chinnuth

?

Spalding, Margaret (Baldwin) (Haynes)

KY

Chenoweth

?

Walsh, Judy

Chenoweth

?

Willis, Vickie

Chenowith

? (Worth)

Boone, Mariah "Sissy"

1855

Chenoworth

A.

Fulkerson, John Vincent

1806

Chenoewetch

Alice

Dec 1867-MO

23 Feb 1890

MO

Creed, Hiram

31 Jan 1870

Chenoweth

Arthur

Cline, Donna Belle

Chenewith

Bernice

Whitaker, John Perry

1895

Chenoweth

Beth

Rutledge, Brian K.

Chenowith

Betty Kathryn

Sisk, Alvin Thomas

Chenoweth

Betty White

Gottschalk, Max

1921

Chenoweth

Blanche R.

Whiteman, James Edward

1 Jul 1904-IN

Chenowith

Carol

Beck, Ronald Wayne

Cheneweth

Carrie

bef 1915

Andrews, Luther

Chenoweth

Catherine

1789

Kittle, Daniel

1766-NY

Chenowith

Catherine Marie

Funk, Thomas James

Chenoweth

Cathy D.

Tennyson, Billy Dale

Chenoweth

Charles

Costello, Joanna

1872

Chenoweth

Charles

Klinger, Deanna Kay

father 1933-1994-IL

Chenoweth

Cinderella

Bennett, Samuel

Chenoweth

Constance Lea

Steakley, Elvis Edgar, Jr

Chenoweth

Coral Marjorie

Goodsir, David Ballinger

Chenoweth

Craig Alan

Schmalz, Linda Helen

Chenoweth

Cricy(?)

1816-SC

1834

Abercrombie, Wilson

1813-GA

Chenoweth

Daisy Bessie

11 Aug 1882-KS

Rowe, Charles Vernon

4 Aug 1875-KS

Chenoweth

Dan

Crist, Debbie Ann

father 1921-1981-IN

Chenoweth

Dave

Diffee, Debra Louise

Chenoweth

David Edward

Johnson, Mary Rosetta

Chenoweth

Dawn

Gibson, Guy Lee

Chenoweth

Debbie Ann

Sheets, Michael Rex

Chenowith

Debie

Markley, James Edward

Chenowith

Debra Sue

Millikan, James Allen

Chenoweth

Dione

Jacobs, Ross Alan

Chenoweth

Don L.

Dowler, Alice Everretta (Wigal)

1922

Chenoweth

Donald

Riggleman, Lenora Eileen

Chenoweth

Dorothy

Korporal, Alvah Daniel

Chenovick

Dorothy Alice

Morgan, James Jacob

Chenowwoth

Dorris

Fisher, Joe Madison

13 Oct 1892

Chenoweth

Douglass Brian

Young, Amy Jo

Chenoweth

Edward

Redfern, Eliza Jane

Chenoweth

Edwin

1900

WV

Hall, Anna Laverne

11 Apr 1881-PA

Chenoworth

Edwin

Resler, Barbara

Chenowith

Elizabeth

27 Oct 1855

OH

Detamore, Samual

14 May 1834-VA

Chenoweth

Elizabeth

Fullerton, William

Chinoweth

Elizabeth

7 Jul 1831

KY

Horton, Samuel

1800

Chenowith

Elizabeth

5-Feb-14

MacLean, Donald

24 Feb 1882

Chenoweth

Elizabeth

Riebe, Benjamin Franklin

1891

Chenoweth

Elizabeth

Sylvester, Caleb, Jr

Chenoweth

Elmer

Weinberg, Gladys W.

Chenoweth

Emily

1848-Eng

Williams, Michael Henry

1850-Eng

Chenoweth

Ethel Mary

15-Jan-29

Marston, Herman

4-Jul-06

Chenoworth

Fannie Pearl

1884-MO

9-Sep-03

IA

Kellogg, Alfred David

Apr 1883

Chennyworth

Fanny

20-Jun-14

Strong, William Taylor

Chenowith

Floyd

Wiederkehr, Irene Florence (Baltzer) (Wright)

Chenoworth

Francis James

Australia??

Kennedy, Edna Ellen

Chenowith

Frank

Gall, Martha

Chenoweth

Frederic Geoffrey

Beckett, Meleta Faye

Chinneworth

Grace

31 May 1889

IL

Glenn, Frank

25 Dec 1884-MO

Chenoweth

Greg

?, Nadine

Chenoweth

H.M.D.

Ashbrook, Amelia

Chenoweth

H.W.

Phillips, Edna

Chenoweth

Harold

Sullivan, Darlys

Chenoweth

Helen

Milum, Carlysle Glenn

Chenoweth

Helen

Patterson, Wendell

Chenowyth

Iain

Burk, Melody Lynn

Chenoweth

Irene

15 Oct 1899-MD

1920

Gunther, George Paul

1884-MD

Chenowith

Isadore B.

Fackler, Wallace Dowling

22 Aug 1892

Chenoweth

James

Hines, Donna Lee

Chenoweth

James D.

?, Ruth

Chenoweth

James King

DuToit, Thelma Nicolene

Chenoweth

Jane

1828-Eng

20 Apr 1848

Bunt, Thomas

12 Sep 1824-Eng

Chenoweth

Jesse K.

Swain, Mary Barbara Louise

28 Sep 1879

Chenoweth

Joann Marie

Barnard, Robert Frederick

Chenowythe

Joathene

Souther, William Bennett

Chenoweth

John T.

22 Nov 1852

Frank, Mary

6 Jun 1865

Chenowith

Juanita

Barnes, Joseph W.

8-Sep-25

Chenowith

Katherine

NOT JOHN1 LINE

Keith, John

1710-MD

Chenoweth

Kay

Spillman, Kent Nelson

Chenoweth

Kelly

Neils, Albert John

Chenoweth

Kelsee MacKenzie

Jeffery, Pamela Jean

Chenoweth

Kenneth

Allen, Amy Jo

Chenowith

Kenneth

d: May 1969

Burlingame, Delores Irene

Chenoweth

LaVada

Gee, Lester Cecil

Chenoweth

Lawrence

Knapp, Mary Helen Lorraine

1913

Chenoweth

Lee

Neff, Vivian Ethelyn

1913

Chenoweth

Lily

Condit, James H.

1850

Chenowyth

Lois

Alexander, Raymond Elmer

9 Dec 1917-CO

Chenoweth

Lori Gail

4-May-61

Schank, Kevin Lynn

Chenoweth

Louise

18 Jun 1907-NE

Grainger, William B.

22 Dec 1899-NE

Chentworth

Lovina

5 Jul 1858

Sperring, John Wesley

6 Jul 1832-Eng

Chennyworth

Lucy Jane

1826

23 May 1859

Pryor, George W.

1826

Chenoweth

Lula

IN

Hunt, Herbert

d: 1867

Chinowath

Lynn

Hodson, Sidney

Chennowith

Margaret

King, Charles

1820

Chenowith

Marge

Butler, Kendall

Chenowith

Marjory

Shegog, William John

Chenowith

Mark

Brewer, Cynthia Jo

Chenoweth

Mark

Tate, Mindy Ann

Chenoweth

Martha

1828-MD

28 Oct 1846

OH

Curtis, Thomas

12 Oct 1825-OH

Chinaworth

Mary

Rice, John

26 Aug 1910-IL

Chenoweth

Mary

1791-MD

9 Nov 1822

IL

Sheern, James (Sherwin?)

1792-Ireland

Chenowith

Mary Helen

Windsor, Dwight Thomas

Chenoweth

Mason A.

4 Nov 1875

IN

Babb, Polly Ann

12 Sep 1853-IN

Chenoweth

Michael

Nielsen, Vallerie K.

Chenoweth

Michael

Runnels, Brenda Kay

Chenoweth

Michael Keith

Delzell, Toni Sue

Chenoweth

Myrtle

Smithwick, William Richard

30 Oct 1875

Chenoworth

Nancy

Best, Richard Thomas

KS

Chenoweth

Nancy Rose

Rittenhouse, Robin Wallace

Chenoweth

Norma

Buntin, William R.

Chenoweth

Randal

Bjornstad, Penny Kay

Chenoweth

Ray C.

VanCleef, Marjorie

Chenoweth

Raymond Michael

Noling, April Iyone

Chenowith

Robert

Mourn, Dorothy Joann

Chenoweth

Robert Richard

Huff, Irene Marie

Chenoweth

Rodney

Taylor, Cynthia Lynn

Chenoweth

Roger

Harris, Jeanette

Chenoweth

Rosemary

Runnalls, John Brent

Chenoweth

Roy

Hall, Vera

father (1895-1966)

Chenowith

Russ

Slayton, Carolyn Sandra

Chenowith

Sam

Wheeler, Laura

Chenoweth

Sandra Jane

Bates, Leo Alfred

Chennoworth

Sarah Ann

Meade, David

1813

Chenoweth

Sasha Faye

Reid, Natalie Michelle

Chenowich

Sharon

Cravens, Quitman Bay

father (1901)

Chenowith

Stephen Richard

Collie, Heather Suzanne

Chenworth

Stu

Harwood, Marilyn

Chenoweth

Susan Clark

Hyer, Dale

Chenoweth

Susan Faye

Bohlander, John Phillip, III

Chenowith

Tesa

White, Henry J.

Chenowith

Tracy

Epperley, John Douglas


[PETE]Peter Chenoweth, editor, Hephzibah, GA ....
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publication: March 25, 2007