Rev. Moses M. Marling

According to a biographical sketch found in the book BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL CATALOGUE OF WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON COLLEGE, Moses Morton Marling was born on November 5, 1835 to Samuel and Mary (Carter) Marling in Roney's Point, West Virginia. He graduated from the United Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1862, and he was ordained into the ministry on April 3, 1864. Rev. Marling served as a minister in the Presbytery of Kansas; Randolph County, Illinois; Roney's Point, West Virginia; Halsey, Oregon; and in Carlock, Illinois.

Rev. Moses M. Marling died on November 17, 1912 at the home of his nephew Arthur Terrill on Finch Street in Sandusky, Ohio. He was 77 years of age. Funeral services for Rev. Moses M. Merrill took place at his nephew's home, and burial was in Oakland Cemetery. So while Rev. Marling served as a minister in several areas all throughout the United States, he was laid to rest in Sandusky, Ohio, in a place where it appears he did not serve as a minister of the gospel. May he rest in peace.

I Stumbled Upon Thomas Edison in the 1850 U.S. Census!

As I was helping a colleague research Alexander McClure, a merchant in Milan, Ohio, in 1850, I ran into Thomas Alva Edison in the U.S. Census for 1850! He is listed in the family of Samuel Edison, at age 3, and his name was listed as Alva. Somewhere along the way, there is a star beside the name of Alva, and the note at the bottom of the census page indicates that Alva is also known as Thomas Alva Edison! I am sure I am not the first person to run into our well known inventor on the census, but I was delighted when I found him there, on my way to looking for someone else! There is a statue honoring Thomas Alva Edison and his mother Nancy in Milan, Ohio. Nancy was age 40 at the time of the 1850 U.S. Census.

It is so fun see history come to life in genealogical research!

Charles H. Reed, Veteran of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy

Charles H. Reed was born in 1840 to E.H. and Charlette (Sweet) Reed. According to the 1890 Union  Veterans Census, Charles H. Reed served as a Private in Company E of the 8th Ohio Infantry in 1861, during the Civil War. By 1863 he was an Ensign on the USS Hastings in the United States Navy. After the Civil War, Charles H. Reed served as Lieutenant on another ship in the Navy, the Manseniosha. In the 1880 U.S. Census, Charles H. Reed was residing in Perkins Township of Erie County, Ohio, with his wife Bell, and their children Harry and Flora. By 1900, Charles H. Reed was living at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home in Erie County. Charles H. Reed passed away on August 27, 1913, at the age of 73. By this time he had become a widow, and his occupation was listed as sailor. Thank you for your service to your country, Mr. Reed! Charles H. Reed was buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery.

Sentimental Sunday: Railway Station in Sandusky, Ohio

Recently I stopped by the railroad station in Sandusky, Ohio, on North Depot Street. The building also is home to offices for the Sandusky Transit System.

The station was built in 1892, for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad. Though it was close to the end of the day, I was able to step inside the station and look around for a few moments. Here is what the waiting area looks like.

A window once used for ticket sales can still be seen in the waiting area.

A train went by when I was still inside the train station. This is the view through the station windows.

Though not in use any more, a baggage building is located near the train station.

My great grandmother, my mom, and I all went to this station in the early 1950s, when Gram Irene treated us to a visit to California to see my Uncle Tom, Aunt Ev, and cousins Patti, Tommy, and Shelley.

Though I honestly don't recall this trip, I heard many stories about it! Mom said that Gram Irene woke us up in the middle of the night, to see the Mississippi River, and Gram Irene read me book after book, as we traveled by rail across the United States! Below is a picture of me and my great grandmother, Irene Larkins Risko, around the same time as our big trip west.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Ancestor With Facial Hair

Randy at GeneaMusings has challenged us tonight to tell about an ancestor with facial hair. The only one I could come up with is my 4th great grandfather, Noah Young, seen in this picture with his wife, Anna, in the book OUR YOUNG FAMILY IN AMERICA.

According to the author of OUR YOUNG FAMILY IN AMERICA, Noah Young was the son of Morgan and Jane Losey Young. He was born in April of 1788 in Essex County, New Jersey. He married Anna Young in North Monroeville on March 20, 1811. Noah Young died on his farm just east of New Yaven, Ohio on July 5, 1858. Noah Young was a coroporal in the 6th Ohio Militia during the War of 1812. He served under his cousin, Captain Jacob Young. Noah appears to have a medium length white beard in the later years of his life.

Thanks for another fun Saturday night, Randy!

Dr. Robert R. McMeens

Dr. Robert Ritchie McMeens was born in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in 1820. THE HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, by William Lang, tells us that Dr. McMeens graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in the Spring of 1841. He married Ann C. Pittenger in August, 1843. In 1846 Dr. and Mrs. McMeens moved to Sandusky, Ohio. During the Civil War, Dr. McMeens served as a surgeon with the Third Ohio Infantry. On October 30, 1862, Dr. McMeens died suddenly, while serving at the Battle of Perryville. The following tribute to Dr. McMeens was composed at a meeting of U.S. Army surgeons at Perryville, Kentucky on October 31, 1862:
























Dr. Robert R. McMeens is buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemtery. He was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame on November 2, 2006. Anna McMeens, the widow of Dr. McMeens, was the housekeeper for Jay Cooke at his home on Gibraltar Island. You can view several photos of Gibraltar Island at Lake Erie's Yesterdays. During a Civil War exhibit at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, a field kit and other Civil War items which once belonged to Dr. R. R. McMeens were on display.

Sentimental Sunday: "Entering the Firelands" Marker

This historical marker which reads:

"Entering 
the 
Firelands
Established
1792"

is located near the intersection of State Route 101 and Northwest Road, along the line between Erie and Sandusky County.

Several of these "Entering the Firelands" markers have been placed along the border of the Firelands by the Erie County Historical Society. A brief history of the Firelands is found at the website of the Firelands Museum:

The Firelands of Ohio is geographically a half-million acres of land off the western end of the Connecticut Western Reserve in northern Ohio. It was first called the Fire Sufferers Land, a name that was soon shortened to the Firelands. This tract was given by the Connecticut Legislature in 1792 to citizens of nine towns which were invaded and damaged by British troops during the American Revolution. The British were attempting to destroy manufacturing and shipping which aided the Continental Army.

Read more about the history of the Firelands at these online sites:

Firelands History

 Ohio History

Erie County History

Ohio History Central 

My ancestors Julius and Percy (Taylor) House were pioneer settlers in Perkins Township, which was a part of the Firelands. Many businesses, schools, a hospital, and a college have been named for this historic piece of land. The Firelands Pioneer, available at many northern Ohio libraries,  is a multi-volume journal which features articles about the early settlers of the Firelands. I am so thankful that the pioneers of the Firelands chose to write down their memories, so that we can understand what life was like for many of our ancestors!