Biographical Sketch of Hon. George Hazeltine

Among the many pioneers of this county none stand higher in the estimation of their fellow citizens than the subject of our sketch. Born in New York in 1838, he came to California at the age of 17 with his oldest brother and resided there for a period of nine years. On the 4th day of July 1862, he arrived in Grant County, and became engaged in mining. In 1804, in connection with A. R. Callum, he built the John Day flouring mills, being the first one built east of the Cascades in the State. He operated it until 1874, … Read more

Abstracts of Wills on File in the City of New York Surrogate’s Office 1660-1680

Sample Last Will and Testament

Abstracts of wills on file in the surrogate’s office city of New York 1660-1680. From May 1787 to the present, county surrogate’s courts have recorded probates. However, the court of probates and court of chancery handled estates of deceased persons who died in one county but who owned property in another. An 1823 law mandated that all probates come under the jurisdiction of the county surrogate’s courts. Each surrogate’s court has a comprehensive index to all probate records, including the unrecorded probate packets. Interestingly enough, there are wills existing and on record at the Surrogate’s Office in New York City for the time-span of 1660-1680. Genealogical extracts of these wills have been provided below.

Manhattan Island and Southward

An early description of the burial customs of the native inhabitants of New Netherlands, probably based on some ceremonies witnessed on or near Manhattan Island, explains the manner and position in which the remains were deposited in the grave. “Whenever an Indian departs this life, all the residents of the place assemble at the funeral. To a distant stranger, who has not a friend or relative in the place, they pay the like respect. They are equally careful to commit the body to the earth, without neglecting any of the usual ceremonies, according to the standing of the deceased. In … Read more

Various Types of Iroquoian Burials

Many burials of special interest, either by reason of their rather unusual form or the material which they revealed, have been discovered in different parts of the present State of New York. These may be attributed to the people of the Five Nations, and seem to prove that all followed various methods of disposing of their dead. The quotations are made from Beauchamp, by whom the information was gathered from several sources. In Genesee County, the home of the Seneca, a cemetery encountered in a gravel bank some 6 miles southeast of Bergen ” has skeletons in a sitting posture, … Read more

David and Margaret Mitchell Genealogy – Appendix

A Tribute to Albert Small by David Mitchell Small My father always provided well for his family. During the Civil War, he staid at home and his father went in his place; my father having such a large family, this plan was thought the best. My father helped at home to gather recruits, and I remember of his telling of his numerous narrow escapes from the opposition. He was always one of the leading men in the church (U. P.) The 23d psalm was his favorite and he said that when he died he wanted us to repeat that psalm. … Read more

David and Margaret Mitchell, Fifth Generation

J. R. Espy

David Adelbert Laughead 541a. Laughead, David Adelbert (214), Des Moines, Iowa; b. June 6, 1874. m. June 13, 1906, Mary J,, dau. of J. W. and M. N. Eyestone. Electrician; United Presbyterian; Republican and Prohibitionist. William Martin Laughead 542. Laughead, William Martin (214), Des Moines, Ia.; b. June 3, 1871. m. Sept. 1, 1904, Ida, dau. of J. and Mary E. Lindley. Electrician; Presbyterian. Lizzie Ethel Young Laughead 543. Laughead, Lizzie Ethel Young (214:), 1885, Washington, Ia.; b. Sept. 23, 1879. Teacher; United Presbyterian. No. 50 Euclid Ave., Pasadena, Cal. Luella Eveline Laughead 544. Laughead, Luella Eveline (214), Washington, Ia.; … Read more

Margaret and David Mitchell: Fourth Generation

Eliza Jennie Johnston

William Bradford Laughead 211. Laughead, William Bradford (43) ; b. May 24, 1838; was a student at Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pa. Enlisted in the Union Army in the summer of 1862; died of fever near Lexington, Ky., Nov. 28, 1862. Nancy Laughead-Young 212. Laughead-Young, Nancy (43), Pasadena, Cal.; b. 1842. m. Nov. 21, 1867, James H. Young. Resided until recently in Washington, Iowa; is now in California. United Presbyterian. David Laughead 213. Laughead, David (43) ; b. May, 1816. Died March, 1863. James Henry Laughead 214. Laughead, James Henry (43), Washington, Iowa; b. April 11, 1848. m. Feb. 20, … Read more

Margaret and David Mitchell: Third Generation

Frances L. Mitchell-Murphy

Issac Newton Laughead 43. Laughead, Isaac Newton (?) ; b. near Clark’s run, Greene Co., Ohio, Nov. 12, 1810. m. 183’x, Nancy, dau. of David and Nancy Anderson, of Greene Co., O. He was the first of David Mitchell’s descendants to enter the ministry. He graduated at Franklin College, Athens, O., in 1834 ; was licensed by the Miami Associate Presbytery on July 10, 1838, to preach the gospel. He supplied, at the direction of his presbytery, various congregations, but spent the greater part of his life in and near Washington, Iowa. He wrote a booklet in 1885, relating to … Read more

David and Margaret Mitchell: Second Generation

William Laughead

James Laughead 6. Laughead, James (1) ; born 1787 in Kentucky, married in Ohio, Mrs. Anna Morton, a widow, and lived most of his life in Logan Co., O., where he died at a good old age; His remains lie in a graveyard near Huntsville of that County. No children. 7. Laughead, David Mitchell (1); born Feb. 7, 1789, married Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Kyle, who was neighbor to his father’s family in Kentucky, and moved north in 1804, or shortly afterward. Seceder ; farmer ; abolitionist ; was in the war of 1812. Children: I. 43 Isaac N.; II. … Read more

David and Margaret Mitchell, First Generation

The Children of David and Margaret Mitchell Elizabeth (Mitchell) Laughead 1. Elizabeth (Mitchell) Laughead. Born the last part of the year 1763, in Cumberland County, Pa., not many miles southwesterly from Carlisle. She was baptised by Rev. John Cuthbertson, Feb. 20, 1764 ; moved to Kentucky with parents in 1779, and, with them in the fort, shared the hardships of the early pioneers. About the year 1786, she married David, son of James and Eleanor (McKnight) Laughead, who were married by Rev. John Cuthbertson, Dec. 12, 1752, at Octarara, Pa. and who, about 1784, moved to Fayette Co., Ky. It … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edwin Archer

(See Downing)-Edwin Archer, born September 19, 1817 in New York City. Married February 26, 1845 Mary Francis Vann, born September 21, 1825 in Georgia. He died May 15, 1893. They were the parents of: Mary Elizabeth, married DeWitt Clinton Lipe; Louisa Catherine, married Freeland McIntosh; Ada, born March 16, 1860, educated in the Cherokee public schools and the Kirkwood (Missouri) Seminary, from which she graduated June 8, 1882, married February 28, 1888, Daniel Vincent Jones, born December 28, 1858 in Grayson county, Texas; Cora, married William Ross Shackelford; Carlotta Archer, graduated from the Cherokee Female Seminary June 28, 1883, appointed … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. E. C. Billings

(See Ward and Cordery)-Jessie Lee, daughter of James Lovely and Charlotte (Ward) Bumgarner, born July 2, 1884, educated at Female Seminary and Lawrence, Kansas. Married at Spavinaw March 30, 1902, K. C. Billings, son of John C. and America Billings, born Aug. 10, 1818 in Texas. They are the parents of Beatrice T., born April 16, 1906; Love, born August 17, 1908; Charlotte America, born August 31, 1910; Edith Belle, born April 22, 1912; Myrtle Ceaphine, born November 10, 1916 and Iva Dell Billings, born October 25, 1918.

Biographical Sketch of Simon Ralph Walkingstick Jr.

Simon Ralph, son of Simon Ridge and Viola (Osborne) Walkingstick was born at Tahlequah Aug. 17, 1896. Educated at Bacone and Dartmouth Colleges, graduating from the latter with B. S. degree. Married at Syracuse, N. Y. December 15, 1917, Margaret E., daughter of C. H. McKaig. They are the parents of Syvertsen Ralph Walkingstick, born. July 3, 1920. Simon Ralph Walkingstick is a Presyterian. In Dartmouth, he was one of the eleven members of the students governing body, President of the College Y. M. C. A., President of the Collegiate Cosmopolitan Club. originator of one of the two principal College … Read more

Biography of George C. Diestilhorst

George C. Diestilhorst was born in Poile, Hanover, Germany, April 18, 1813, and was there reared to manhood. He received his education in the Lutheran school, of his native place, and his father being a harness-maker by trade, on leaving school he also learned that trade and worked with his father up to the time he was twenty-three years of age, when he emigrated to America, arriving in New York City, May 1, 1836. He was successful in securing a situation in the government harness manufactory in that city, and remained six months, then went on a prospecting tour, seeking … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Horatio E. Needham

Horatio E. Needham is a native of Addison County, Vermont, born September 10, 1827, near the village of Shalott. While in his infancy his, parents migrated to St. Lawrence County, New York, remained six years, and then went to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, where they remained until 1852. During this time Horatio was employed on the farm and also at stone-cutting. In 1859 he went to Fremont County, Iowa, and in 1862 enlisted in Company E, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was on duty three years, being in many important engagements, among which were the battles, of Little Rock, Helena, Mobile … Read more

Biography of Judge Joseph Oscar Cunningham

Judge J. O. Cunningham. The publishers and editors of this work feel that only a meager tribute can be paid to the memory of Champaign County’s most beloved citizen in the following brief review of his life. Judge Cunningham was a great historian. He contributed liberally to historical literature, was himself the author of a History of Champaign County, and in the closing months of his life he gave generously from the riches of his great collection and from his experience and memory in an advisory capacity to the compilation of the present work. Joseph Oscar Cunningham was born at … Read more

Treaty of October 22, 1784

Articles concluded at Fort Stanwix, on the twenty-second day of October, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, between Oliver Wolcott, Richard Butler, and Arthur Lee, Commissioners Plenipotentiary from the United States, in Congress assembled, on the one Part, and the Sachems and Warriors of the Six Nations, on the other. The United States of America give peace to the Senecas, Mohawks, Onondagas and Cayugas, and receive them into their protection upon the following conditions: Article 1. Six hostages shall be immediately delivered to the commissioners by the said nations, to remain in possession of the United States, till all the … Read more

Treaty of March 29, 1797

Relinquishment to New York, by the Mohawk nation of Indians, under the sanction of the United States of America, of all claim to lands in that state. At a treaty held under the authority of the United States, with the Mohawk nation of Indians, residing in the province of Upper Canada, within the dominions of the king of Great Britain, present, the honorable Isaac Smith, commissioner appointed by the United States to hold this treaty; Abraham Ten Broeck, Egbert Benson, and Ezra L’Hommedieu, agents for the state of New York; captain Joseph Brandt, and captain John Deserontyon, two of the … Read more

Agreement of September 15, 1797

Contract entered into, under the sanction of the United States of America, between Robert Morris and the Seneca nation of Indians. This indenture, made the fifteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, between the sachems, chiefs, and warriors of the Seneca nation of Indians, of the first part, and Robert Morris, of the city of Philadelphia, Esquire, of the second part: Whereas the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have granted, bargained, and sold unto the said Robert Morris, his heirs and assigns forever, the pre-emptive right, and all other the right, title and … Read more

Treaty of May 31, 1796

At a treaty held at the city of New York, with the Nations or Tribes of Indians, denominating themselves the Seven Nations of Canada; Abraham Ogden, Commissioner, appointed under the authority of the United States, to hold the Treaty; Ohnaweio, alias Goodstream, Teharagwanegen, alias Thomas Williams, two Chiefs of the Caghnawagas; Atiatoharongwan, alias Colonel Lewis Cook, a Chief of the St. Regis Indians, and William Gray, Deputies, authorized to represent these Seven Nations or Tribes of Indians at the Treaty, and Mr. Gray, serving also as Interpreter; Egbert Benson, Richard Varick and James Watson, Agents for the State of New … Read more