Warped Pizza_Guy1 Diaries: Family (genealogy)

The following is copies of emails between myself and Carolyn Graden Dossey:

Monday, November 11, 2002 5:12 PM

I'm Debra's sister and I'm answering her email until the account disappears. She died in June. Contact me at **************. I have lots of info on the Graden's although not all the way to Ireland (I think). Contact me as we also decend from Alexander. Do you know Dick Graden in Nakomis?? Although I haven't had time to work on the family for some time I'm sure I have info that will help. Which son are you from?? Carolyn Graden Dossey

--------- Original message --------
From: "Skip Graden"
To:
Subject:
Date: 11-10-02 22:16

Greetings from Central IL, my name is Harrison J.
Graden, Sr., I am the Great great Grandson of
Alexander Graden and am trying to find out more about
the Gradens and where all they may have come from. I
believe that my family came to Central IL in the late
1800's from Ohio. Before that they had traveled from
Ireland?
From where does your family name come? What have you
been able to discover?
Thank you for your assistance.
Skip Graden

Our next correspondence:

Sunday, November 17, 2002 4:04 PM

Skip,

I think I met your grandfather a number of years ago when we visited Nakomis. Did he live on Graden Hill Farm? Is it your dad that has Alexander's sword? If so I met him also. I'm trying to write this from memory. The place Graden is in Scotland. Both Dick and I think the Gradens are Scotch Irish. To my knowledge Dick has never been to Ireland. He gave me some info on the Gradens that stayed in Nokomis and I have given him info futher back.

The Gradens, Alexander and Sophia Zimmerman, came from Gallia County, Ohio with their family in the 1860's where they bought Graden Hill Farm (at least that is what I call it). My great grandfather was Hiram Malachi who left Illinois is the 1880's and came to Kansas. Alexander was born in Jefferson County, Ohio the son of Thomas and Margaret Oswalt Graden. Thomas was the son of Alexander and Jane (Jean?) Graden (Graydon) and he was born in Pennsylvania probably either Washington County or Cumberland County. The Gradens were in Cumberland County in 1790 and Washington County in 1800.

I think I know who Alexander's father and grandfather where but I have no proof.

With the holidays coming up I'm not sure when I will have time to send you more but I do have information on these families. There is another cousin from Nakomis that wants the info so I need to find the time to get it written up.

It has been a busy year for us. We helped our son work on his house and move in the spring, Debra died shortly after and we had her affairs to take care of. She had lived with our mom. Both had become packrats and it took weeks to go through things. Mom then decided to sell her house so we had to go through things again with downsizing into a small apartment. We got her house sold and her moved in October. Then we had things on our house that we put off and we're trying to get done.

We also take care of the grandkids 2-3 afternoons a week depending on our daughter-in-laws work schedule. Until we got mom's house sold we also took care of three houses. My husband's mom lives with us now and before that we took care of four houses. Although we are now retired we have been BUSY and haven't gotten to our genealogy like we wanted.

Will send you more later. Sending a picture of Gr. Gr. Grandmother Sophia as an attachment. Have other pictures you might be interested in. You might want to know I have copies of letters that Sophia's grandfather who severed in the Revolutionary War sent to his children in Ohio. Also have his pension record from the nation archives.

Anyway be patient with me as I will send stuff as I get to it and I'm sure it will be after the holidays. Anyway send me your snail mail address. Also I would like to know more about you. I've been looking for someone younger that would continue with the research.

There are other Graden families from Germany and Switzerland, but I really feel there is any connection.

Your Kansas cousin,
Carolyn

Then again:

Monday, January 20, 2003 1:27 PM

Skip,

I finally got the things I know about Alexander Graden. I'm sending it as part of this email so you don't have to worry about opening it as an attachment. I'm also sending a picture as an attachment. I don't know how fast your internet service is. I have other pictures that you might be interest you.

Let me know is you get this.

Carolyn

ALEXANDER GRADEN AND SOPHIA ZIMMERMAN

    Alexander Graden was born November 4, 1816 probably in Jefferson County, Ohio. He was the oldest son of Thomas and Margaret Oswalt Graden. Alexander was raised with known siblings John, Jacob, Mary, Susan and Charlotte. Father ,Thomas was a farmer. Before Thomas's second marriage Alexander himself was married.
    On January 8, 1840 in Jefferson County, Ohio Alexander married Sophia Zimmerman, another Jefferson County native. Sophia was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Leas Zimmerman. Sophia was born January 15, 1819. According to official records this is the date of the marriage although in 1952 Estella Graden wrote in a letter that her grandparents were married on January the 9th. A copy of a page from a family Bible also gives the date as the 9th. Alexander's brother John married Sophia's sister Maria on 26 October 1843. Both were married at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jefferson County. Through out the remainder of their lives these families would live near each other.
    Shortly after their marriage they moved to Harrison County and by 1850 they were in Gallia County, Ohio. Eight children were born to this marriage. Twins Elizabeth and Margaret were born September 16, 1840 in Harrison County, Ohio. Mary was born on January 27, 1843. Charlotte was born on March 3, 1847; John L. was born on January 3, 1851. An infant son was born on 14 Oct. 1843 and it is assumed he was either born dead or died that day (according to a page from a family Bible). Hiram Malachi was born on September 10, 1857 in Gallia County Ohio. Thomas Millard was born January 8, 1860 in Gallia County, Ohio. There is also an "adopted" son or sons, Sam and or William Miller who was born about 1840. The story written by Emit Graden, grandson of Alexander and Sophia was that Alexander went to the neighbors when the twins were babies and brought home two Miller boys, one a baby who needed Sophia's milk. They were raised by the Graden's (I can find no proof of this in the Census records.) Emit also says that the boys were soldiers in the Civil War and were given land in Kansas for their service. Emit could remember one visiting and telling him a story about jackrabbits.
    In 1840 Alexander and Sophia appear on the census records for Harrison County with another male in the household age 10-15. This other male was probably his brother John. On the 1850 and 1860 census they are in Gallia County, Ohio. In 1870 they appear in the census for Montgomery County Illinois. In 1880 they are listed with children Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Millard still living at home.
    Alexander served during the Civil War as a First Lieutenant in Co. B 16th Battalion Ohio Volunteer Militia. At Age 47 he was enrolled and listed his residence as Addison on July 1, 1863 and signed his name as Alex Graden. In July of 1863 this unit was attached to 2nd Brigade, 9th. Division, 13th. Army Corps. In August they were attached to the 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 13th Army Coprs, Dept. of the Tennessee, and to the Dept of the Gulf to September of 1863. We have no record to date of how long he served.
    Several family stories have been passed down about the Civil War years along the Ohio River. One story involves Elizabeth (Lizzy) and a horse that she was very attached to. Morgan's raiders came through and although all the livestock had been hidden they found the horse. Lizzie becomes very upset and crying begged the raiders not to take the horse. When they took the horse anyway she begged them to return it when they were through with it. Sometime later the horse appeared. Her nephew Emit would remember Lizzie had a kind heart when it came to animals. He encountered chickens, sparrows and robins recovering from injuries. Lizzie also recalled for Emit a childhood memory of an eclipse of the sun.
    According to another family story the family, especially the sister Sophia and Maria were involved in the Underground Railroad and the family was asked to leave Ohio for their own safety. They supposedly left during the night and moved to Illinois. We do know that they left Ohio during the war as they bought property in Montgomery County for $5000 from Eliza and Sarah Ann Sanders in 1864.
    In 1866 Sophia signed the constitution for St. Marks Church in Nakomis. "St. Marks Church got its start in Audubon Township in 1852 when Daniel Easterday moved his family from Jefferson County, Ohio, Audubon Township. In 1855 Rev. D. D. Swaney formally organized the congregation and a constitution was adopted. A house of worship was built at a cost of $$800 and was dedicated as Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church.
    After the railroad came to Nokomis the town grew rapidly and a large number of the Zions members moved into town. It was decided by the Lutherans to sell the church property in Audubon, re-organize the congregation and erect a house of worship in Nokomis. A new house of worship was erected in Nokomis in 1866 at the cost of $4,500. At this time the church faced Oak Street. In 1885 the church edifice was turned to its present position. In about 1890 the parsonage was built."
    In 1874 the farm of 200 acres is in the county atlas. On the farm is a school also. Living not far away were daughter Margaret and her husband William Shoemaker and family. Alex's brother John and Sophia's sister Maria were also close by. Also living in Audubon Township were Pococks.
    In 1882 Alexander died and was buried in the Nokomis Cemetery. The following undated a newspaper article has been copied. "In the death of Mr. Alexander Graden which occurred at the family residence in this place: last Sunday morning we loose one of our oldest and most esteemed citizens. He was, as all knew him an industrious, unassuming gentleman and wherever known had friends. Mr. Graden had for the past few months been failing in health and during the person of his last illness was a great sufferer. His years number three score and five, ten months and twenty days. The funeral services took place Monday morning at 10 o'clock from the Lutheran Church, Rev. Booher conducting the exercises. His remains were lain to rest in the city of the dead, the new cemetery east of town." According to one family source Alexander died because of injury to his foot.
    In 1888 Tom sent a telegram to his brother John from Wabash Indiana, with the following message: "How is Mother" which leads one to believe she must have been ill at that time.
    Sophia lived her remaining years with her unmarried daughters with all moving into the town of Nokomis.

Sophia's will:
    I Sophia Graden, of the Town of Nokomis in the county of Montgomery and State of Illinois being of sound and disposing mind and memory do hereby make and publish this my last will and testament in the manner following to wit:
First: I give devise and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Graden the sum of Five hundred dollars and to my daughter Charlotte Graden the sum of five hundred dollars.
Second: I devise and bequeath all the balance of my estate real and personal and mixed to my six children and their descendants to be divided equally between them share and share alike twit to my sons John L. Graden, Hiram M. Graden, and Thomas M. Graden one share each to my daughters Elizabeth Graden and Charlotte Graden one share each and to the children of my daughter Margaret Shoemaker one share.
Lastly I do nominate and appoint my son John L. Graden to be my Executor of this my last will and testament. Witness say this fifth day of July 1890.
Witness D. H. Zepp and Jacob Easterday
Signed Sophia Graden (her mark)

Her personal estate at the time of her death was $1071.31. Her estate papers show her funeral expenses to be $65. The final accounting of her estate was $4.85 to Coll. Taxes, $3.00 Wild and Webster. Adj. notice, $60.00 John L. Graden Executor' com., $16.50 W. G. Webster Attorney, $478.50 Elizabeth Graden, $478.51 Charlotte Graden, and $29.95 to A. N. Banes for court costs. Her legal heirs at the time of her death were: John L. Graden, Nokomis; Thomas M. Graden, Nokomis; Hiram M. Graden, Goff, Kansas; Elizabeth Graden, Nokomis; Charlotte Graden, Nokomis; Ella M. Pocock, Nokomis; Leora Matilda Kellogg, Jacksonville, Illinois; Luther F. Shoemaker, Nokomis; John W. Shoemaker, Nokomis; Luther E. Shoemaker, Nokomis; Katharine M. Shoemaker, Nokomis.

Family information for Alexander and Sophia:

Elizabeth born Sept. 16, 1840 Harrison County, Ohio and died Dec. 26, 1930 in Nokomis, Illinois (never married)
Margaret born Sept. 16, 1840 Harrison County, Ohio and died Dec. 24, 1884 in Montgomery County, Illinois Married William Shoemaker on Jan. 9, 1862 in Gallia County, Ohio
Mary Jane Graden born Jan. 27, 1843 in Ohio died Nov. 20, 1847 in Ohio
Charlotte Graden born Mar. 3, 1847 in Ohio died Oct 17, 1926 in Nokomis Illinois (never married)
John Leas Graden born Jan 3, 1851 in Gallia County, Ohio died Dec. 16, 1918 in Nokomis Illinois married Elmina Pocock March 27, 1879
Hiram Malachi Graden was born Sept. 10, 1855 In Gallia County, Ohio and died April 1, 1923 Woodlawn Kansas married Sarah Ellen Sanders in Christian County, Illinois May 8, 1881
Thomas Millard Graden was born Jan. 8, 1860 in Gallia County, Ohio and died in Nokomis Sept. 5, 1932 married Mary Eugenia Sperry Oct. 8, 1885

Sources:
Probate records of Jefferson County, Ohio
1820 Census of Jefferson County, Ohio
1830 Census of Jefferson County, Ohio
1840 Census of Harrison County, Ohio
1850 Census of Galia County, Ohio
1860 Census of Galia County, Ohio’
1870 Census of Montgomery County, Illinois
1880 Census of Montgomery County, Illinois
Probate records of Montgomery County, Illinois Sophia
Newsprint of obituary of Alexander Graden (Newspaper and date unknown)
Richard Graden of Nokomis Illinois
Memories of Emit Graden
Land Record of Montgomery County, Illinois
Letter from Estella Graden to Hiram Lester Graden 1952
Marriage records of Harrison County Ohio
Marriage records of Montgomery County, Illinois

Records need checking:
Land Records for Gallia County, Ohio
Land Records for sale of land by Sophia in Montgomery County
Newspaper records for family info in Nokomis during the periods they lived there
Check again for probate records on Alexander
Obit for Sophia

January 20, 2003
Carolyn Graden Dossey
Leavenworth, KS 66048

And again:

Sunday, February 2, 2003 12:38 PM

Skip,
Here's the next story about Alexander's father Thomas. I am going to send you a send email about another son of Thomas, Thomas C. I would sure like to have your family information back to Alexander and your family stories. Enjoy the stories.
Carolyn

Thomas and Margaret Oswalt Graden

    In 1800 the Graydon family was living in Pike Run, Washington County, Pennsylvania. Alexander was listed as the head of household. Listed in the household of our ancestor were one son and five daughters. This son was Thomas Graden (note the spelling change. My father told me that they Americanized the spelling of their name and this might be the generation that happened.) Also in the household were Jane (Jenny), Alexander’s wife and daughters Mary (Polly), Jane, Margaret, Isabella and another daughter who must have died before 1811.
    Thomas was born in Pennsylvania, according to later information given by the family on February 13, 1793. He was probably born in either Washington or Cumberland County.
    Shortly after the turn of the century Alexander and Jane took their family, with the exception of Margaret, across the Ohio River and settled in Jefferson County, Ohio. Margaret had married John Sprowls and remained in Washington County.
    The family settled on 94 acres in Township 11, Range 3, Section 1. Alexander died about August 1807. When Alexander died Jane, his wife and John Henderson, his son-in-law were administrator of his estate. The land became involved in a lawsuit when Margaret sold her share to Jacob Mushrush. Thomas, because he was under 21 had to be appointed a guardian in April of 1811. Jacob Mushrush sued for a fifth share of the value of Alexander's estate. A sale of the personal property was recorded in 1811; among the purchaser were Thomas and Jane Graydon and Thomas Reily, his son-in-law. The farm, which was valued at $4.80 per acre, was sold to Thomas and a fifth share was given to Jacob Mushrush. Thomas had to pay for the land with one-forth down and three equal annual payments. The property rights were minus the dower rights of Jane, his mother.
    We know from these records that at a young age Thomas took over the responsibilities of his deceased father's farm. The financial burden of the farm had to be hard on one so young and then war came to the frontier. England and America were at it again. Thomas enlisted as a private in Captain Allen's regiment of the Ohio Militia during the War of 1812. Official records show that he enlisted for a period of six months but after about three months he was discharged with a "scald head". (A scald head was the name of several diseases of which sores become scales and there is hair loss.) Records show he served from September 21 to December 16, 1812 and was sent home on the recommendation of the surgeon. According to his youngest son he was in the battle of Lake Erie. (This could not be a fact as this battle occurred in September of 1813.)
    In 1816 Thomas was concerned with affairs of the heart. On January 10, 1816 in Stark County he was married by Justice of the Peace Isaac Miller to Margaret Oswalt. Margaret was the daughter of Jacob and Sarah Huston Oswalt. (The census records lead us to believe that Jacob was her father the name of her mother came from an unconfirmed internet source. The same source lists Jacob’s parents as Jacob and Rebecca Huston.) On November 4, 1816 their first child, a son, Alexander was born. It is through Alexander that we descend from Thomas.
    On the 1820 census of Jefferson County we find Thomas and Margaret listed with three sons under 10 years of age. They would probably have been Alexander, Jacob and John. Also listed on this census is a Joseph Graden family, the relationship is unknown. He would not have been a brother to Thomas.
    In 1822 Thomas purchased 160 acres in Section 14 Township 11 Range 3 this land was sold in 1831. Since some deeds this old appear to be missing the date the original farm was sold is unknown at present.
    On the 1830 census we find Thomas and Margaret with three sons and one daughter, which probably would have been Mary.
    In 1800 Jefferson County covered more territory and through the years it was carved up into other present day counties. These old homestead may be in another county.
    In 1836 Thomas bought 160 acres for $1850 from the state of Ohio in Section 16, Township 11 Range 4 of Jefferson County.
    By 1840 after the birth of three more daughters Mary, Susan and Charlotte, Grandma Margaret had died. It is unknown where she was buried, perhaps in an unmarked grave in Watson’s Ridge Cemetery. This death was especially traumatic to Susan as many years later the death is mentioned in the biography of one of her grandsons. At least we assume that Margaret is the mother of all these children as no other marriage records can be found until the marriage of Thomas to Christina Ann Speedy in Harrison County, Ohio on July 7, 1840. On the 1840 census Thomas is listed with a household of 6 males and 4 females. In 1840 Thomas is involved in politics as he is listed as a Justice of the Peace in the estate papers of his brother-in-law John Henderson.
    The next ten years presented a changing family to the aging farmer. Sons Alexander, John and Jacob married and he became a grandfather many times. By 1850 Thomas and Christina had three sons of their own. James was born about 1841, Thomas C. Graden was born in 1846 and Samuel was born in 1847. Tragedy struck in the form of smallpox in April of 1850 when after an illness of two weeks Thomas died leaving his young family. He is buried in Watkins’s Ridge Cemetery near his granddaughter Margaret, daughter of Jacob.
    According to court records for Thomas’s estate his widow was to be given provisions and property that they would think reasonable to support her and the children for 12 months from the time of his death and the personal items she brought into the marriage. (What did they expect her to live on the remainder of her life?)
    His person estate was worth $1479.63 which included all of his livestock.     According to chancery records personal property and credits due the estate amounted to $1603. Debts amounted to $3004. Thomas had died with about 127 acres in Hamilton County. Christina was entitled to 1 share equal to one third. She received NW 1/4 Section 15 Township 11 Range 4. The farm in Section 16 was sold to Harrison Strong for $3900.
    They left little for the widow by today's standards: 2 hogs, 2 barrels of flour, 10 hams and bacon, 1 cow, 8 plates, 1 tea pot, 1 lot of cupboard ware, 10 bushels corn, and $100 cash. They also gave her 4 old spinning wheels, 1 large spinning wheel, 2 reels, 1 lot of flax, 5 bed and bedding, 1 Franklin stove, 6 plates, 6 cups, 6 saucers, 6 knives and forks, 1 sugar dish, 1 milk pot, 1 lard, plus other household items and their clothes. They also listed the items she brought into the marriage. No farm implements etc. were left fro her as all were sold in the sale. The list of items sold at the sale includes such things as her wash board, kettles, vinegar keg with vinegar, 1 barrel churn, stove, 2 kegs lard, 1 kraut tub, 1 plough, 1 scythe, 1 gray mare, 1 colt, 2 cows, 3 heifers, 2 hogs, 1 acre oats, 10 acres wheat, and 1 eight day clock Some items were brought back by the widow. Other family members bought items including son Jacob. No will was mentioned so I assume that is the reason Christina did not get everything that did not have to be sold for debts. Several years later Christina applied for 80 acres of land based on Thomas's War of 1812 service. Because he served such a short time she only received 40 acres, its location wasn't given.
    All of Thomas's sons had left Ohio by 1870. Christina came with their youngest son and settled in Platte County, Missouri and is living with Samuel’s family in 1880. Christina died March 15, 1894 and would have been about 84 years old. She is buried there with his family in Walnut Grove Cemetery at Parkville near the old family farm and present day Graden School.

Family information for Thomas and Christina
James born 1841 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died 1915 in Platte County, Missouri (never married)
Thomas C. Graden was born in 1846 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died August 21, 1924 in Las Angles, California.
Samuel Graden was born in 1847 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died in 1908 in Platte County, Missouri married Martha A. Sample on Sept. 30, 1873 in Platte County, Missouri
(Note: There are no known descendants from this family. Thomas and Samuel never married. Samuel had three daughters, two never married and one that supposedly died during her first pregnancy.)

Family information of Thomas and Margaret
Alexander was born November 4, 1816 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died Sept. 24, 1882 in Montgomery County, Illinois. He married Sophia Zimmerman January 9, 1840 in Jefferson County, Ohio.
Jacob born May 16, 1818 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died August 12, 1884 in Jefferson or Jackson County, Kansas. Married Lavina Gable March 29, 1841 in Jefferson County, Ohio.
John was born November 17, 1819 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died January 22, 1892 in Montgomery County, Illinois. Married Maria Zimmerman October 26, 1843 in Jefferson County, Ohio.
Mary born about 1829 in Jefferson County, Ohio, death information unknown and possibly married Moses Calhoun before 1850 and later to a Saulsbury.
Charlotte born about 1832 in Jefferson County, Ohio, death information unknown. Married George Brown October 25, 1852 in Galia County, Ohio.
Susan born about 1834 in Jefferson County Ohio and died April 14, 1903 in Jefferson County, Ohio. Married John Wilson.

Sources:
1790 Census of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
1800 Census of Washington County, Pennsylvania
1820, 1830,1840,1850 Census of Jefferson County, Ohio
1820 Census of Stark County, Ohio
1880 Census of Montgomery County, Illinois
1880 Census of Platte County, Missouri
Annals of Platte County, Missouri
History of Washington County
Marriage, probate, and deed records of Jefferson County, Ohio
Don't Know Much About History
Tombstone Inscriptions and Family Records of Jefferson County, Ohio
Past and Present of Montgomery County
National Archives records
Will of Thomas C. Graden (lists his siblings including half brothers and sisters)
Gallia County, Ohio Marriage Records
Stark County, Ohio Marriage Records
Harrison County Marriage Records

Records need checking
1860 Census to locate family
1870 Platte County, Missouri to get complete information

February 2, 2003
Carolyn Graden Dossey

Then more:

Sunday, February 23, 2003 3:34 PM

Here is the next chapters of our family saga. What I know about Alexander and Jane Graydon the parents of Thomas. Also sending what I know about Sophia Zimmerman Graden's parents. I have started on Sophia's grandparents but I'm sifting through that. I'm sending along a picture of Leas Cemetery that I got off the internet. I have never been through that area of Ohio.

I think I know who Alexander Graydon's father and grandparents were, but I have no proof. Maybe never will know for sure, if you want that information when I get it in the computer let me know.

Hope you and your family can put together some of the information on your line from Alexander and Sophia. Do you know any of the decendents from John and Maria Graden?

Any enjoy. Let me know your comments on the stories.

Kansas Cousin, Carolyn

Alexander Graydon and Jane (Jean)

    The first account we have of Alexander is the 1790 census of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania in Hopewell, Newton, Tyborn and Westpensboro Townships. Alexander Greadin is listed as 1 male over 16 and 6 females. Alexander is possibly the son of Caleb Graydon and ?. I have no proof of his parents, only the preponderance of the evidence at this point to lead me to this conclusion. Many records of this area and time period still need to be checked. The other two Graydons listed in 1790 are the sons of Alexander Graydon, the emigrant (this will differentiate him from our other Alexander’s) and his second wife Rachel Marks. Caleb was the son of Alexander, the emigrant, and his first wife Elizabeth Emerson. Lots of information is available on the second family of the emigrant and his second wife, but little on the family of his first wife.
    The 1792-1794 Militia Roll for Cumberland County lists Alex Greaden residing in the bounds of the 6th. Battalion on February 4, 1793. They were living near Shippensburg, which was originally settled by Irish and located on a post road. By 1800 the family is living in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The family lists 1 male 0-10 and one male 45 and up. This would have made Alexander born at least about 1755. If he were the son of Caleb he would have been born in Pennsylvania. Also listed in the household are 1 female 0-10, 1 female 10-16, 3 females 16-26 and 1 female 45 and up.
    On the 1800 Tax List for Pike Run Township of Washington County Alexander Greaden is listed as a distiller. This is important as it gives validation to a family story that the Gradens were involved in the Whiskey Rebellion. The farmers in Western Pennsylvania protested a federal liquor tax because this was a way for them to get their products to market easier across the mountains. They attacked the collectors until President Washington sent troops in and the rebellion dissolved with no fighting. Washington County because of its location was involved.
    Life on the frontier was hard. Most homes were crude cabins made with round logs and the cracks daubed with clay. Roofs were clapboard and chimney of stone. The furniture made with the logs available and beds covered with blankets or fur. Clothing was hung on pegs. Doors were two sections so that the top half could be left open in fair weather.
    Life was busy from dawn to dusk. Women did the cooking, baking, washing, scouring, spinning, mending and sewing. The milking was left to the women and children. Men were busy clearing the land, plowing, sowing, hunting, and harvesting the crops. The family was fed with hog, and hominy, johnnycakes, and cornpone, sausage, mush and milk. There were the fruits and vegetables that were gathered. Things that were needed could be grown or made at home. Neighbors shared and helped one another. Weddings and house raisings were important social events.
    Clothes were simple. Men wore a hunting shirt, breeches, leggings and jacket and cap usually with moccasins. Women wore plain gown and a handkerchief for head covering. Children were barefoot except for winter. Pewter dishes were for company and wooden bowls were for everyday. Cabins contained a spinning wheel and a Bible was their main reading and record-keeping source.
    Sometime between 1800 and 1807 the family moved further west across the Ohio River into Jefferson County, Ohio. One daughter, Margaret was left behind. She had married an Irishman named John Sprowls and they remained in Washington County. The Sprowls had traveled with the Gradens from Cumberland County shortly after the marriage of John and Margaret. According to Sprowls family history they came to Washington County in 1796.
    The religion of the family is unknown but there were more Presbyterian Churches than others in this region of Pennsylvania. The area was also settled by a lot of Scotch-Irish, which also agrees with a family tradition.
    According to court records Alexander died in October of 1807 holding 94 acres of land in Section one, Township 11, Range 3 in the Steubenville District of Jefferson County valued at $4.50 per acre. At the time of his death he left 5 children, Mary (Polly), Jane (Jenny), Margaret, Isabella, and Thomas. He also left his widow Jane (Jenny). Jane the widow, and John Henderson, husband of Jane were administrators of the estate. Son, Thomas bought the farm for $359.10. Margaret and John Sprowls sold her share of the estate to Jacob Mushrush and there was a court action to settle the estate. This court action is what gives us the names of Alexander’s survivors. This legal document contains two spellings of the Graden name.
    It is unknown when and where Jane, the mother, died although I would assume she lived out her days in Jefferson County. It is also unknown where either is buried.

Family Information of Alexander and Jane
Margaret was born about 1782 and died Oct 3, 1838 in Washington County, Pennsylvania. She married John Sprowls about 1796 in possibly Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
Mary (Polly) married Thomas Riley
Jane was born about 1786 and died in 1872 in Jefferson County, Ohio. She married John Henderson November 28, 1810 in Jefferson County, Ohio.
Isabelle married Thomas Bell August 26, 1823 in Jefferson County, Ohio.
Thomas was born February 13, 1793 in Pennsylvania and died April 1850 in Jefferson County, Ohio. Married Margaret Oswalt January 10, 1816 in Stark County, Ohio. Married Christina Ann Speedy July 7, 1840 in Harrison County, Ohio

Sources:
1790 Census Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
1800 Census Washington County, Pennsylvania
1984 Keyhole, Publication of Genealogical Society of Southwestern Pennsylvania (1800 tax list)
http://education.yahoo.com/search/be?lb=t&p=url%3Aw/whiskey_rebellion
History of Washington County
Sprowls Cemetery Records
Inventory of Estates, Jefferson County Ohio Books I and II
CPR B 423 (Court papers)

Records Need Checking
All records for Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (that time period)
All records for Washington County, Pennsylvania (that time period)
Any old newspaper records for either county for that time period

Questions that need to be answered
Who were the other Gradens in Jefferson County?
What information is out there about Mary (Polly) Graden Riley and Isabella Graden Bell?
Was Alexander the emigrant or was he the son of Caleb or someone else already in America?

February 20, 2003
Carolyn Graden Dossey

More:

Wednesday, February 26, 2003 9:58 AM

Skip,
Think I just sent you a blank email. Opps.
Anyway the thing we have to do with the pics of Tom Graden and his businesses is to let people know we got them from the Animas Museum. Check out web site www.rochesterhotel.com/legacy.html. They used his pictures there. I got mine from the museum when we were there a number of years ago.

Here is info about me. Alexander is also my great, great grandfather. I decend through son Hiram Malachi who married Sarah Ellen Sanders in Christian County, Ill. They came by wagon to Kansas in the 1880's where my grandfather Hiram Lester Graden was born. Lester (as he was known) married Jessie Postel in Nemaha County, Kansas and they had 5 children.
My dad Lester Eugene Graden was married twice. He and his first wife Helen Fultz had 3 children: Robert Eugene, Joyce Elaine and Gary Darrel, all of whom are now deceased. He married my mother Nettie Westen during WWII in Virginia and had four and I am their oldest. My sister that you emailed first was the youngest. I have one brother and one sister still living. More one these families as I get my stories written.

I have been married to Charlie (or Chuck) Dossey for almost 39 years. We have one son Tim who will be 34. Tim is married to Lori Cain and they have our two grandchildren: Elijah (Eli)who is 6 and in the first grade and Abigail (Abby) who is two. Charlie worked for Hallmark Cards for 31 years and retired two years ago. I worked a number of jobs through the years as telephone operator, office worker in utility company, newspaper, and school system cafeteria manager until I found a job I loved. I worked the last ten years with the handicaped students in the classroom and the last two years as the assistive technology person for the whole county. I had to learn some about computers to work with the students. I am not a comptuer expert, but I know a lot about specialized software and other electronic equipment for the handicapped. I resigned at the same time my husband retired.
We try to help our kids and family as both of our mothers are still living. My mother-in-law lives with us. We also help an older widow whom we lived beside for 25 years. Actually the family has kept us very busy since we retired. We haven't had the time to do the genealogy we had planned, but of course family comes first. We work on it as we have time.

I will try to get more into the story format and my husband when he gets a chance is entering our info into Family Tree Marker. (He recently took a part time job 3 mornings a week.) Anyway we started our family search about 20 years ago and put in on the back burner after about 4 years and it simmered with a litte research through the years. Last summer we worked on the files we had accumulated and now as we get time we are doing internet research and trying to get the information into the computer so that it can be put together to pass on to our son and grandchildren.

I think you would be surprised at the number of people in Nakomis that are related to you!!!

Anyway, I've taken enough of your time up and you know some about me. Until next time.
Carolyn

Again:

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 7:42 AM

Skip,

I understand about time and jobs. Our son was going through a nasty divorce this spring and the custom cabinet shop he worked for closed and he lost his job. He was extremely lucky and found a job that pays more and didn't miss a paycheck or a day of medical insurance for him and the kids and the topper is it is only 3 blocks from his house.

I am glad I can share this with you. Don's DNA was tested by Family Tree DNA and through the Graden Group. My husband had tested some time ago for the Dossey/Dorsey Group with some surprise results. We had thought that all the Dosseys in America were related and several of us had worked to prove that for years as we had records that lead us to believe that was the case. Well there are 2 very distinct bunches! So I guess I really expected anything.

First, the Graydons (Irish spelling, Dad always said that they Americanized the spelling of the name) are from County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland and there are family members that still live there. Our bunch came from the townland of Coolnagrane (they later moved to the townland of Lisneska). The two guys that run the Graden Group are also from the County. John Graydon who lives in Toronto, Canada is our match and comes from the same townland. Dave Graden lives in Minnesota came from a nearby townland. It appears that the Graydons from this county divided into 4 groups and a slight mutation in the DNA allows them to divide us into the townlands. John says that 75% of the Graydon/Gradens in the world are related either proven by DNA or records. Of the ones that appear to descend from a Scottsman that came to Fermanagh about 1600 they settled in four different townlands within about 10 miles. (Of course all of this info comes from John and Dave who work with it all the time.) John says the Parish records don't go back far enough for us to know the exact relationship.

It appears that our Alexander that died in Jefferson County, Ohio in 1807 was from Ireland (more on the evidence of this later). The connection to the earlier Alexander that settled in Philadelphia is not a direct line. I had tried for over 20 years to prove this connection, so that theory went out the window. I later learned that the earlier Alexander wasn't even a Graydon, his mother was and he legally took his Grandfather's name (He had raised him). I had checked with Dave to make sure one of the early Alexander's descendents had tested as I was so sure we would match them. So John's match was a little surprise. You probably have run into a lot of records for some Gradens that settled in Pennsylvania a little later they also come from the same county as do the ones you find in the Carolina's early. They just come from different townlands but all are related of course.

I will send you some things, pics, maps etc as I have time. Any comment or correction is always welcome. It is really nice to know for sure where we came from before America.

I must get busy, no kids today but errands to take up the whole day.

Nice to hear from you again. Hope the degree pans out for you. Our son is just now learning that the college degree helps in a job hunt as he worked for many years in custom cabinet shops where it was unnecessary. I'm sure it helped get him this job.

My best,
Carolyn

Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:53:37 -0700
From: pizza_guy1@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Graden Family
To: ********

Oh yes, I am! Have not had the time lately to work on background and family history as the restuarant company I worked for went bankrupt leaving me without a job and to start over in life. I am now cooking in St Louis Co and hope one day to return to school and complete a degree in Culinary Arts. Please forward what you can!

Thanks,

HJ Skip Graden, Sr.

From: Charles Dossey
To: Harrison Graden
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 8:41:18 PM
Subject: Graden Family
I know it has been a LONG time but I didn't forget you. I have some Graden info that might interest you. My brother Don had DNA done and we now know where the family came from, down to the county and townland in Ireland. If you are still interested in family history let me know and I will send you some information.

Your cousin,
Carolyn

Skip,

Your results should be about the same as Don's, since there are several generations that seperate our common ancestor (Alexander who died in Montgomery County, Illinois) there might have been a slight mutation but it should still be very close. I will send the results to you also. The DNA test was my Christmas present from my husband. We are trying to get one of my maternal cousins to test. We have a 25 year brick wall and now we think my grandfather changed his name.

As far as I know there is no town in Ireland with our name, but there is a place in Scotland. I'll have to look for it but I think I have a map that shows it.

Carolyn

Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 07:25:12 -0700
From: pizza_guy1@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Graden Family

Carolyn,

Was there mention of a Town in Ireland with our last name? Sounds great and I have looked at the DNA site, wish I could afford to undertake it at this time... One day, one day... I will look over what I have, not sure I have much more than you have found?

Skip

Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:53:37 -0700
From: pizza_guy1@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Graden Family
To: chuckdossey@hotmail.com

Thanks,

HJ Skip Graden, Sr.

and more:

Friday, July 3, 2009 8:47 PM

Skip,

Go to the following website for my brother's DNA results:
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/gradengraydon/default.aspx?section=yresults
His is kit number 108551. Your DNA should be similar.

The ancient village site of Graden is on the Scottish border. Go to:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/
enter the word Graden in the search the one called Graden, the one listed Graden, Scottish Borders is the one you want, the Graden Moors will also show up as it is only a short distance away. The village goes back to the 1200's and earlier. The movie "Braveheart" with Mel Gibson is based on a true story (one of my husband's favorite things to say when we go to the movies). This is the area of Scotland that they are talking about. Could one of our ancestors been involved? Also do a search on Milne Graden. It is the location of a large estate. It is only a short distance from the Village.

John Graydon's theory is that we trace back to the Scottish Boarder region before 1600 and our ancestor moved to Ireland in the 1600's. On the 1631 Muster Roll of the County of Fermanagh a Robt. Gradin is listed. The poor man didn't even have a weapon listed with his name, some had sword or pike listed next to their name. My husband laughed and said he probably had a stick. We think he is the common ancestor to the Graden/Graydons from the different townlands of Fermanagh. We recently attended the Highland Games in Kansas City and really enjoy them, was is in my DNA? Also found there is a Graden tartan, see attached

The 1747-1768 Freeholders List of Electors (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nirfer/1747-1768freeholders.html) lists some Graydons.

Attaced is a map of Aghavea Parish which shows some of the townlands that the Graydons are from. Dave has also posted several in the adjoining parish.

More another day.
Carolyn

Attached is a map of Fermanagh. \ last name? Sounds great and I have looked at the DNA site, wish I could afford to undertake it at this time... One day, one day... I will look over what I have, not sure I have much more than you have found?

Then again:

Saturday, July 4, 2009 7:36 PM

Skip,

Here are a couple more things I thought you might want to see.

Carolyn

And the last email in this series was on Saturday, August 8, 2009 3:32 PM....

Skip,

I finally found a little time to work on my book for the grandkids. John Graydon in Toronto sent me this and I just ran across it. Thought you might like to see it so it is attached. I'm also sending along some poems by Winston Graydon who grew up in County Fermanagh. For some reason I couldn't bring them up to attach so I will copy them below.

I have this ongoing project where I am putting stories, pics, maps together to pass on the the grandkids. I have two notebooks on Charlie's family (and still not finished) but I am just starting on mine. I am trying to write and update the things I know and put them into story form as well as into my computer program for genealogy.

When I die my son is going to have a lot of stuff to store. Our granddaughter loves history and hopefully she will want the things we have gathered. Tim doesn't have the time now to enjoy them. He was recently divorced and has residential custody of the two grandkids and a new job which he is trying to learn and coaches both of their soccer teams. We try to help anyway we can and also both of our moms are still living. Charlie's mom lives with us and my mom in a senior citizen apartment only a short distance away.

The following two poems were sent to me. These come from a distant cousin who grew up in County Fermanagh. All either describe Fermanagh or life there.

Mountain Home

Seated ‘roud the cosy hearth stone

Glazing at the turf fire’s glow

Shadows of the flickering lamp

Jump like dancers to and fro.

The dresser at the gable wall

With dishes all in a row

Reflect the fire’s dying light

On the kindly hearts below.

A tay pot sitting on the hob

And kettle on the crane

Pictures frozen in the mind

But never seen again.

A water bucket on the chair

Kept beside the door

A heather besom against the wall

To sweep the stone slab floor.

The lurking ghost on Nutfield Brae

And banshee down the Glen

Stories long told around the fire

But chill us once again.

The mountain home is long gone now

And the kindly voices still

But I see it all when my mind returns

To the town land of Slushhill.

Winston Graydon

Flitting

We kept well down behind the cart

Keeping our faces hid

We didn’t want the neighbors to see us there

Or the few bits of things we had.

We hadn’t got much in a worldly sense

A couple of beds and chairs

A table maybe or an apple box

And a few other odds and ends.

On we went with Bob the horse

Taking it all in his stride

We didn’t stop much except to check

That the hens had their legs well tied.

It’s a humbling sight when I think of it now

Trundling up a dust road

Our couple of things on a horse and cart

Bound for a new abode.

We made it there and I have to say

It was nothing much to inspire

But walls and a roof and a place to lie

And a hearth to light the fire.

But worldly things are not all there is

And we were happy in our way

With the flitting done, the hens untied

And the thought that we might stay.

Winston Graydon

Winston Graydon also contributed two poems to a book, Fermanagh Miscellany 2. Below is exact quote from that book.

Two Poems

Winston Graydon

This poem was inspired by a recent visit to Stanafeley, not far from my childhood home at Brookeborough, which I left nearly fifty years ago. My mother started school at Stanafeley nearly ninety years ago, walking across the hills from the family at Slushhill. My mother often spoke about the school, now in ruins and almost hidden in the undergrowth. She spoke of Miss Mayes, the teacher at that time who often took the children on nature walks and visited the waterfall in the nearby woods. In fact, there are two waterfalls.
It was an emotional experience for me, to stand where the children stood all those years ago and watch the water still cascading down. I can hardly put into words how beautiful a place it is and just one very small corner of Fermanagh. To stand at the ruined school, near the site of Maguire’s Castle and the waterfall and look across the rolling valley to my childhood home was just awe inspiring.

Give us a road that wind it’s way

Past the site of an ancient hall

Pause again, in woodland glen

Beside a rushing waterfall.

Hidden away, from the passer-by

Near the ruins of a country school

Countless children came this way

To stand by its swirling pool.

On a new spring day we found it

Down a path from a whinny lane

The sound of the water calling

Stirs the peace of this lonely glen.

This place stirs every emotion

You can sense the Creator’s hand

The rocks and falling water

Here is nature’s wonderland.

It’s here you will want to linger

Among carpets of Celandine

Wood anemone and primrose

On the banks of a mountain stream.

Look across the rolling valley

Listen to the wild birds’ call

Come on back to Stranafeley

And it’s tumbling waterfall.

The Clogher Valley Railway

There’s a picture in my memory

Of a quiet bygone day

The Clogher Valley engines

Rolling along the Permanent Way.

There were four named after rivers

Fury, Blackwater, Colebrooke, Erne

And three of noted places

Caledon, Errigal and Blessingbourne.

From Maguiresbridge to Brookeborough

Through the street at Fivemiletown

On to Clogher and Augher

Then Ballygawley town.

Caledon and across Blackwater

The journey’s nearly done

Stemming in to Tynan

To meet the Northern Line.

Sometimes overloaded

On the Twelfth or valley fair

Two engines a third pushing

Over the top of Tullyvar

Through scenic wooded country

Dotted along the way

Quaint station and keepers houses

Some still stand today.

I think I see a horse and cart

Waiting patiently

On the train to cross the country road

By the halt at Aghavea

The smell of the smoking engine

And the boiler blowing run to Maguiresbridge

On a sunny afternoon.

In May of eighteen eighty-seven

When first the line was new

Running fifty-five more years

Until January forty-two.

Gone in the name of progress

Dimmed by the hand of time

Resigned to history’s pages

The Clogher Valley Line.

Winston's parents never married and Graydon is his mother's name.

As I run across things to put into their book I think you might like I can send them along if you are interested. I'm attaching an updated version of my story on Alexander and Jane. 　

We plan on going to see the new movie Julie and Julia tomorrow. Hope you are right about it being good.

Your cousin,

Carolyn

Attachments included: Alexander Graden & Name Graydon

Warped Pizza_Guy1 Diaries

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Family (genealogy)

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