Oregon Trail Marker

Source

"The first marker erected on the old trail, at Tenino, Washington."

Melissa (Kennedy) Book

Melissa was the daughter of David and Ann (Howard) Kennedy and the sister of my ancestor, Mary Agnes (Kennedy) Powers.

Source: 1861 Census

Census Year: 1861

Item Number: 2865710

Province: Canada West (Ontario)

District Name: Lincoln

Sub-District Name: Grimsby

   Ann Canada, b. U.C., 52, Widowed

 Melissa Canada, b. U.C., 21, Single

 Eliza Canada, b. U.C.,  18, Single

  Edwin/Edward Canada, b. U.C., 11, Single

  Howard Canada, b. U.C., 9, Single

 Mary Howard, b. U.C., 66, Widowed

All members of the same family and all of the Wesleyan Methodist Religion

Frame House/One Story/Housing One Family

Canada Census, 1871

Nationality: English

Religion: C Of England

01, Grimsby f, Lincoln 21, Ontario

Household Gender Age Birthplace

George Book M 46 O

Melissa Book F 29 O

Georgianna Book F 17 O

John F Book M 11 O

William H Book M 7 O

Mary C Book F 6 O

Wm Clendenen M 65 O

United States Census, 1880

Pembina, Dakota Territory

Household Gender Age Birthplace

Self George Book M 55 Canada

Wife Malissa Book F 39 Canada

Daughter Mary Lundie Book F 15 Canada

Son Edgar Book M 7 Canada

Daughter Arabella Book F 9 Canada

Son George Book M 12 Canada

Son Robert Book M 5 Canada [b. Townsend, Norfolk, Ontario]

Source

Minnesota State Census, 1895

Spruce township, Roseau, Minnesota

HOUSEHOLD

George Book M 72y Canada

Milessa Book F 55y Canada

Edgar Book M 21y Canada

Robert Book M 19y Canada

Helen Book F 14y Dakota N

Melissa's FindAGrave memorial can be seen here.

Manson F. Backus - Mayflower Society Member

Elected to the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants - 1146.  Manson Franklin Backus, Seattle, Wash., ninth from Stephen (1) Hopkins, eighth from Constance (2) Hopkins.  Backus notes here.  More about Manson F. Backus here.

Source

Michigan-Born Mother-In-Law

Myrtle Book, daughter of George E. Book and granddaughter of George and Melissa (Kennedy) Book*, married (as his 2nd wife) the son [William Merton Crittenden] of a Michigan woman, Mrs. Frank [Ida McCracken] Crittenden, of Kelso, Washington.

Source
From the Cass City Chronicle, 24 April 1936

United States Census, 1930

Longview, Cowlitz, Washington, United States

Household Gender Age Birthplace

Head Frank Crittenden M 50 South Dakota

Wife Ida Crittenden F 40 Michigan

Son Meiton Crittenden M 19 Oregon

Daughter-in-law Winnie Crittenden F 17 Montana

Son Eldon Crittenden M 15 Oregon

Obituary of Ida Crittenden's mother, Frances (Burgess) McCracken, can be seen here in the Cass City Chronicle (23 April 1937).

*Melissa (Kennedy) Book and my 2nd great-grandmother, Mary Agnes (Kennedy) Powers. were sisters.  They were originally from Grimsby, Ontario, Canada.

The President And Manson Backus

From the Washington Post, published February 18, 1917:

"President at Fete Where Patriotic Spirit Rules"

...at the New Willard Hotel....President Wilson, Vice President Marshall.....

The guests were:
The President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States.....Manson F. Backus, Seattle, Wash.,....

[Manson F. Backus was my Half Fourth Cousin 1x Removed]

 (Link To First Page Here)

Manson Franklin Backus

Because of our mutual ancestors, Mr. Backus has forged the path for a possible Mayflower Descendants' membership.

 "A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of the City of Seattle and county of King, Washington..." has a brief biography of Manson Franklin Backus that mentioned John Backus:

"John Backus, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Washington county [NY], in that state, whence he early removed to Livingston county.  Here he followed the life of a frugal, industrious farmer, and attained the advanced age of eighty-eight years."

Manson F. Backus's father, Clinton Theron Backus, was the half-brother of my 3rd great-grandmother, Laura A. (Backus) Richmond.  Our lines are identical except for the highlighted entries in the Abridged Compendium, by Frederick Virkus (added links):


BACKUS, Manson Franklin, b S. Livonia, N.Y., May 11, 1853. 
8-William Backus (qv);
7-Stephen (d 1695), m 1666, Sarah Spencer;
6-Timothy (1682-1762), m 1708/09, Sarah Post;
5-John (1720-before ^1790), m 1746, Joanna Cleveland, widow of Uriah Downing;
4-John (1747-1842), soldier Am. Rev., m 1769, Jerusha Baker;
3-John (1772-1862), m 3d, Philena (Stebbins) Richardson.
10-Stephen Hopkins (qv);
9-Constance (d 1677), m Nicholas Snow (d 1676);
8-Mary (b 1630), m ca. 1650, Thomas Paine (Thomas 9, Plymouth, Mass., 1622);
7-Elisha (1659-1735), m 1685, Rebecca Doane;
6-Rebecca, m Edward Cleveland;
5-Joanna (b 1717), as Widow Downing, m 2d, 1746, John Backus (5 above).
2-Son of Clinton Theron Backus (1827-97), banker, farmer, manufacturer, Union Springs, N.Y. , m 1851, Harriet Newel Groesbeck (1828-54); m 2d, 1855, Nancy Ellen Decker (1828-1904)

I'm grateful for M.F. Backus's genealogical activity.  "Mr. Backus' present social activities include membership in the...Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants...". [Source]

Strang Relations: The Phillips Family

Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University included a Strangite Collection, which included a letter to Stanley Johnson (now an elder -- September 18, 1938) from Clement Strang (son of James Jesse Strang).  Included in the "old letters" was a reference to a niece, Zilfa, as well as Zilfa's parents, Eugenia and Thomas Phillips.

In a letter Clement Strang mentioned that his niece Zilfa was columnist with the San Francisco Chronicle.  In 1940 Zilfa was living in San Francisco and was identified as a newspaper editor.

United States Census, 1940
name: Zilfa Estourt
event place: Assembly District 25, San Francisco City, San Francisco, California
gender: Female
age: 56
marital status: Widowed
race (standardized): White
relationship to head of household (standardized): Head
birthplace: Wisconsin
estimated birth year: 1884
residence in 1935: Same House
Household Gender Age Birthplace
head Zilfa Estourt F 56 Wisconsin
mother Eugenia Phillips F 83 Wisconsin
lodger Byron Marconnier M 45 New York


The Phillips family, including Thomas, Eugenia, Zilfa, Thomas, Benjamin, and Theodore Phillips, as well as mother-in-law Phoebe [Wright] Jessie, was living in Tacoma, Pierce Co., Washington, in 1900.

United States Census, 1910

name: Zilpha E Phillips

birthplace: Wisconsin

residence: Tacoma Ward 1, Pierce, Washington

marital status: Single

father's birthplace: Wisconsin

mother's birthplace: Wisconsin

Household Gender Age Birthplace

self Thomas H Phillips M 58y Wisconsin

wife Eugenia J Phillips F 53y Wisconsin

dau Zilpha E Phillips F 26y Wisconsin

son Raphael T Phillips M 18y Wisconsin

son Benjimin W Phillips M 16y Minnesota

son Theodore F Phillips M 13y Utah*

Pheobe A Jessie F 73y Canada

*[Note: d. 1937; mother's last name given as Strang]

Wisconsin, Births and Christenings, 1826-1926

name: Zilpha Eugenie Phillips

gender: Female

birth date: 03 May 1883

birthplace: Black River Falls, Jackson, Wisconsin

race: White

father's name: Thomas Henry Phillips

father's birthplace: Wisconsin

mother's name: Emma Eugenie Jesse

mother's birthplace: Wisconsin

Zilpha E. Phillips, a widow, married Harry S. Estcourt, a widower, in 1921 in Victoria, BC, Canada:

British Columbia, Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932

name: Harry Slocum Estcourt

event date: 14 Jul 1921

event place: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

estimated birth year: 1877

birthplace: Bowling Green, New York [sic] Kentucky

marital status: Widowed

father: Harry James Estcourt

mother: Zielfa Delia Gardner

spouse: Zilfa Eugenia Phillips

spouse's estimated birth year: 1885

spouse's birthplace: Black River Falls, Wisconsin

spouse's marital status: Widowed

spouse's father: Thomas R Phillips

spouse's mother: Eugenia I  J.?

Thomas Phillips died in 1925, Eugenia Phillips died in 1946 and Zilfa Estcourt died in 1959.

See other Strang related posts here and here.

The Sad Tale of Lieutenant George B. Backus

An article described as "an Interesting Story of the Young Army Officer's Domestic Life" can be read at GenealogyBank:  Lieutenant Backus Has Not Been Found  (April 7, 1892).  Note:  Some (but not all) links are part of a pay to view site (i.e. GenealogyBank) and a subscription is needed to view them.

 The message that got media attention:

Lieutenant George Backus left a message for the War Department that stated, "Strike my name from the rolls of the army.  I am going to commit suicide."  Lieutenant Backus was still alive  in Dallas, Texas, in 1895 when he was found suffering from morphine poisoning in another incident.  He succumbed June 14, 1895.

His sorrows stemmed from an incident in 1884, when he was stationed in Walla Walla, Washington.  There was a "situation" with Lt. Backus's beautiful wife and another soldier.  Backus divorced his wife and threatened the soldier that if he didn't marry Mrs. Backus, he would kill him.  "Within a month, she and the Southerner [he was from Maryland] were married."

At a later date Lieutenant Backus was involved in a duel with another woman at the heart of the dispute.  Since then Backus was "broken down greatly," but it was hoped that he hadn't committed suicide and that the note indicated "a fit of temporary abberration...".

Military history of George B. Backus:

[Source]

In a happier time (1880):

United States Census, 1880

residence: Linkville, Lake, Oregon

occupation:  Lt. Usa

  Household Gender Age Birthplace

self G. B. Backus M 29 Pennsylvania, United States

wife A. K. Backus F 21 Oregon, United States

From Ancestry: A. K. Backus [Amanda Katherine Backus]. Spouse: G. B. Backus. Residence: 1880 - Linkville, Lake, Oregon ...  .  She was the Amanda Stitzel in the 1870 Census.  Her father was Jacob Stitzel, a merchant in Portland, Oregon.

Amanda Catherine Stitzel married [George] Benjamin Backus on October 19, 1876, in Stevens County, Washington.  Amanda was Mrs. Ide according to this item on the GenForum message board.

In 1900 Gilbert Ide (born in Wisconsin -- was he the Southern man George B. Backus threatened?!), his wife Amanda, their children, and Gilbert Ide's step-son, George S. Backus, were living in Stevens County, Washington.

George S. Backus, son of Amanda C. and George B. Backus married Harriet Fish, who wrote about their life in mining camps.

The BACKUS surname is an interest of mine; I'm a descendant of William Backus, the original emigrant and suspected that George B. Backus (Jr.) was as well (he was descended from Francis Backhouse, not William Backus according to Ancestry).  George (Jr) was the son of George and Caroline Backus who were living in Colorado when the 1870 census was taken (and in Pennsylvania in 1860).  In 1860 George, Caroline and George, Jr., were living next to John C. (son of Thomas and Rebecca (Couch) Backus), whose historic home in McKean Co., Pennsylvania, is seen here.

Obituary Of Mrs. Lamond

An index card containing obituary information about Mrs. DAVID Lamond, held by the Lapeer County [Michigan] Genealogical Society.  Her daughter, Jean (also known as Jennie), married my great-great uncle, Ward B. More.

Lamond   Mrs Thos. L.*    Lapeer obit

Mrs Thos. L. Lamond died March 19, 1910 home of dau Mrs W. F. Laughlin.  Born in Almont 70 yrs ago, name was Jeanette Morgan, dau of M/M Thos. Morton(sic) (one must be wrong).  Almont pioneers.  Last Oct was 50th ann marriage to Thomas Lamond.  Leaves husband; 3 sons and 4 daus; John L. Lamond of Rogers, Texas; Thomas L. Lamond of Finlay, Wash; Wm. L. of Lapeer; Mrs. Jean Moore of Los Angeles; Mrs. F. L. Bradley of Spokane, Wash; Mrs. H. D. Hanes of Owosso; Mrs. W. F. Laughlin of Lapeer.  Also a sis Miss Jean Morton of Almont.  Buried Mt Hope cem.

*Mrs. David Lamond

United States Census, 1880 

  Household Gender Age

David Lamond M 51

  Jaenetter Lamond F 40

child Janie M. Lamond F 19

child Maggie M. Lamond F 17

child John Lamond M 12

child Marion Lamond F 10

child Euphama Lamond F 8

child Thomas M. Lamond M 6

child William G. Lamond M 4

Margaret Lamond F 75

George Gilbert M 22

United States Census, 1920 

name: Jean L More

residence: Belvedere Township, Los Angeles, California

birthplace: Michigan

gender: Female

marital status: Widowed

Household Gender Age

  Jean L More F 59y

Anna Rowan F 48y [cousin]

Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960
name: Famie L. James
death date: 22 Nov 1937
death place: Spokane, Spokane, Washington
gender: Female
age at death: 65 years 9 months 21 days
marital status: Married
spouse's name: Charles
father's name: David Lamond
mother's name: Janet Morton



Texas Deaths, 1890-1976
name: John Lamond
death date: 11 Jul 1942
death place: Post, Garza, Texas
death age: 75 years 1 month 7 days
estimated birth date: 1867
father's name: David Lamond
mother's name: Jeanette

Papers of Manson Franklin Backus

From the Manson Franklin Backus papers at the University of Washington:

Besides banking and financial concerns, Backus was a regent of the University of Washington, 1909; he served as president of the Washington Society of the Sons of the Revolution, 1917; he was a member of the Rainier Club, and its president in 1922. He supported the Fine Arts Association, was a trustee of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and on the advisory board of Children's Orthopedic Hospital.

Manson F. Backus Passport Application

Manson F. Backus was the son of my Laura (Backus) Richmond's half-brother, Clinton T. Backus.  Manson was a successful banker in Seattle.  He was also active in the Mayflower Descendants Society.  We share the Mayflower lineage.

Image From Ancestry

Obituary of Amelia Cinderella (McFadyen) White

From the Orlando Sentinel, published in September 16, 1958:


Mrs. White's obituary was found in the Orlando Sentinel Index at the Orange Co., FL, Public Library.

MRS. AMELIA CINDERELLA WHITE, 77, 1511 Aloma Ave, Winter Park, died Sunday* in a local nursing home. Born in Pennsylvania she moved to Winter Park in 1946 from Detroit, Mich. She was a member of the Winter Park Presbyterian Church, Order of Eastern Star, Order of White Shrine, and a member of the National Federation of Grandmothers Club of America.

Surviving are four sons, Edgar White, Park Ridge, Ill; Harry White, Canton, Ohio; Brandon White, Seattle, Wash.; Albert White, Detroit, Mich.; three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Palm and Mrs. Sara Woodworth of Detroit, Mich.; Mrs. Helen Krantz, Orlando. 17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Fairchild Funeral Home is in charge.

*14 September 1958

Amelia Cinderella White was Jim's grandmother.