His Occupation was "Playing Baby"

While I was looking up my House ancestors who lived in Perkins Township, Erie County, Ohio, in the 1870 Census, I ran into an interesting listing for the neighbors of my Great Great Grandmother Marion House Parker. Grandma Marian lived close to a Methodist minister, Elvero Persons. Elvero's wife was Gertrude, and they had a son whose name was listed as Berton. Berton was one year old in 1870, and his occupation was listed as "playing baby." By the time of the 1880 Census, the Persons family had moved to Ashland, Ohio, and Berton's name was listed as Elbert. He was age 10 in the 1880 Census. I was anxious to learn more about young Elbert Persons. By 1900, Elbert E. Persons was in the Armed Forces, and he was stationed in the Philippines.

When I entered the name Elbert E. Persons in the search engine at Newspaper Archives, I learned that Elbert E. Persons was a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and Northwestern University. He was appointed First Lieutenant in the Medical Corps in 1900, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1919. During World War One, Elbert Persons received the emergency rank of Colonel, and he reorganized the U.S. Ambulance Unit at Camp Crane in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Later in the war, Colonel Persons served in Italy, and was in charge of twenty units of the ambulance service. Colonel Elbert E. Persons died on July 8, 1924 at the Walter Reed Hospital, after a long illness. He was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. An obituary for Elbert E. Persons appeared in the July 11, 1924 issue of the Washington Post.

Just by doing a bit of online searching, I was able to learn a great deal about my Great Great Grandma Marian's neighbor, and his exciting miltary career. It was a fun adventure on my afternoon off!

Reminder about Events Commemorating the Battle of the Peninsula

Click here to read about upcoming events which commemorate the Battle of the Peninsula, which took place during the War of 1812 in Danbury Township. The many activities will be held at the Keeper's House, the former home of pioneer resident Benajah Wolcott.

Josephine Haubursin, 1830-1907

This monument honoring the memory of Josephine Haubursin is found at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. The only facts that I know about Josephine are that according to her tombstone, she was born in 1830 and died in 1907. After searching through cemetery records, local death records, and several genealogical databases, I was unable to locate her name. Josephine Haubursin was not listed in the Sandusky City Directories for the early part of the twentieth century. The 1910 U.S. Census lists the surname Haubursin in Indiana and Pennsylvania, and gives Belgium as the birthplace for some Haubursin family members. If anyone knows more details about Mrs. Josephine Haubursin, please leave a message in the comments section. Thanks!

Elizabeth Quade, 1827-1900

This beautiful monument honoring the memory of Elizabeth Quade, whose life spanned from 1827 to 1900, is found in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. Above the name of Elizabeth is an ornamental wreath which surrounds clasped hands. After performing searches in genealogical databases, I was unable to definitively learn more about the life of Elizabeth. However, her memory has been etched in stone, and it is clear to me that she was dearly loved, as evidenced by the exquisite workmanship seen on her tombstone.

Ebenezer and Ellen White

In Hewson Peeke's A STANDARD HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, OHIO, we read that Ebenezer White was born in Massachusetts, and his wife, Ellen Jones White, was born in New York State.

Ebenezer White moved to Ohio with his family when he was age thirteen, his father Capt. John White being a pioneer settler of Erie County. For six years, Ebenezer White served as Erie County Commissioner. He was active in farming in Groton Township of Erie County, where he was a township trustee and a justice of the peace. Ebenezer White died in 1885, and he is buried in Graves Cemetery, with his wife Ellen. Ebenezer White was survived by three children: Lizzie Zabst, Harriet Neill, and Daniel D. White. Many other early residents of Erie County's Groton Township are buried in Graves Cemetery, just south of Castalia.

Walter Payne, 1879-1903

About August 14, 1903, Walter Payne accidentally shot a blank cartridge into his left hand. At first the wound seemed minor, but soon infection set it, followed by lockjaw. An article in the August 21, 1903 issue of the Sandusky Evening Star reported that though Dr. Hubbard was doing everything possible, Walter was in serious condition. Sadly, at the age of 24, Walter Payne died on August 22, 1903. He was buried in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. Walter was survived by his bride of two months, his parents, five brothers, and a sister. The inscription on Walter Payne's tombstone reads:

Blessed are the pure in heart
For they shall see God.

Tombstone Tuesday: Miss Emma Beecher

Emma Beecher was the daughter of Lucas S. Beecher and Janet Turk Beecher. Lucas S. Beecher was an early lawyer in Sandusky, who was well known as an abolitionist. The Beecher home was a "safe house" on the Underground Railroad. Miss Emma Beecher died on August 22, 1933, at the age of 91. She is buried in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery.