Sunday, June 30, 2013

July 2013 Calendar

I thought it might be nice to include in the blog the family calendar of birthdays and anniversaries.  That way you can wish those who are celebrating something this months a happy day.  Please let me know if there are any mistakes.  Also it would be helpful if I knew when babies were born so I could include them also.  If this offense anyone, please let me know that too.  I certainly don't want to offend anyone.  Have a wonderful Sabbath.


Saturday, June 29, 2013

Thomas Trevor Williams


My Great Grandfather, Thomas Trevor Williams, was born 11 October 1846 to Trevor Williams and Elizabeth Dale in Talysarn, Carnarvon, Wales.

He was the 3rd child and 2nd son of 11 children; six boys and five girls. 

1851 Census Llandwrog, Carnarvon, Wales


1861 Census Llandwrog, Carnarvon, Wales

     He left Wales for America at the age of 18 years and 7 months.  He arrived in America at the time of the Civil War. He enlisted 4 April 1865 and served with the Pennsylvania 110 Regiment.  He was wounded in the thigh and discharged 15 May 1865.
Civil War Service

The following information came from: General Services Administration National Archives and Record Services.  (Receipt #82755).

     “Thomas T. Williams inducted into the union Army at Pittsburgh, Penna. In the 110 Pennsylvania Infantry 4 Apr 1865.  Occupation-Miner; Description- gray eyes, red hair, light complexion, 5 feet 5 inches tall; Age-18years and 7 months.”
     After his discharge from the Union Army he went to Duluth, Minnesota as his occupation was mining.  Later he became an engineer on the passenger train running from Fon-du-Lac to Duluth, Minnesota. 



1870 US Census Black Hawk, Gilpin, Colorado Territory, United States

     He met Annie Atha Blackburn when she took a ride on the train.
     The following statement came from Uncle John Williams, Grandmother Proctor’s brother.
     “Annie Blackburn saw a tintype photo of Thomas Trevor Williams just as he was entering the cab of his engine.  They became acquainted and fell in love with each other.  They were married 26 February 1871 at Duluth, Minnesota.



   


      They moved to Thompson, Minnesota, where Great Grandfather had a good paying position as an overseer in a slate quarry.  They decided that they wanted to go to California but on arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah, Grandfather remarked, "This is the place for us."
     They made their home in Bingham, Utah, for a short time where Great Grandfather worked in the mines.  After working in Bingham for a few years, they took up a 1/4 section of land on the Indian Farm, afterward known as Lake Shore, Utah.  The following children were born:  William Trevor born 9 June 1876; George Blackburn born 18 March 1878; and my Grandmother, Elizabeth Sarah was born 22 June 1880; John Trevor was born 26 February 1882.  William Trevor died 18 July 1880. 


1880 US Census Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah

Great Grandfather spent some time on the farm but kept going back to work in the mines at Bingham.  The lead was too much for him.  Finally he succumbed to the effects of the lead and died 1 April 1884, at the age of 37, leaving Great Grandmother with three small children, George, Elizabeth (my grandmother), and John.  Another son Thomas James was born a few months after Great Grandfather's death on 10 August 1884.  The baby only lived a few short months died 10 November 1884. 


    







Friday, June 28, 2013

Mary Ann Anderson

     
      My Great Grandmother Mary Ann Anderson was born to William Anderson and Janet Allen in the village of Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland on 3 April 1850. The oldest of  4 children.  She had a younger sister and two younger brothers.   
     
 Inverurie is located in the valley of the River Don at the center of Aberdeenshire and is known locally as the Heart of the Garioch. It sits between the River Don and the River Ury and is only 10 miles from the imposing hill of Bennachie.

The Hill Bennachie
     The town center is triangular and is dominated by the grand Town Hall built in 1862.
Grand Town Hall
 In the middle of the square is the Inverurie and District War Memorial, capped by a lone Gordon Highlander looking out over the town.
Inverurie and District War Memorial
     She was christened 13 June 1850 in Chapel of Garioch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.  Chapel of Garioch is not, as the name might suggest, a chapel, but a small village, located about 3 miles north west of Inverurie. The lordship of Garioch dates back to at least the 13th century, when the sister of Robert the Bruce was Lady of Garioch through her marriage to the Earl of Mar.
     The chapel which gives the village its name was built as a private place of worship, but was created a regular chapel in 1195 by the Bishop of Lindores.  It seems certain that the chapel was already in existence at that time. The chapel survived the Reformation and became a parish church of the Reformed Faith in 1583. It was replaced in 1813 with the present church. 

1851 Scotland Census about Mary Ann Anderson

Name:Mary Ann Anderson
Age:1
Estimated Birth Year:abt 1850
Relationship:Daughter
Father's Name:William Anderson
Mother's Name:Janet Anderson
Gender:Female
Where born:ChapelAberdeenshire
Parish Number:204
Civil Parish:Inverurie
County:Aberdeenshire
Address:Nethertown
ED:1
Page:6 (click to see others on page)
Household Schedule Number:24
Line:16
Roll:CSSCT1851_46
Household Members:
NameAge
William Anderson25
Janet Anderson24
Mary Ann Anderson1
Unfortunately, we are unable to display the accompanying images of this census at present, despite extensive negotiation with the General Register Office for Scotland. Permission from them has not, as yet, been forthcoming. For this reason, and to enable you to continue with your family history research, Ancestry has heavily transcribed the Scottish Census records to ensure you have access to all key areas of information contained within this collection.
Source Citation:Parish: Inverurie; ED: 1; Page: 6; Line: 16; Roll: CSSCT1851_46; Year: 1851.
Source Information:
Ancestry.com. 1851 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Original data: Scotland. 1851 Scotland Census. Reels 1-217. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.
     
     Tragedy struck on 16 Oct 1855 when Mary Ann’s father, William Anderson, died from dropsy leaving a 
young wife and four small children; Mary Ann 5; Jane 3; William 2; and Alexander 2 months.
 

1861 Scotland Census about Mary A Anderson

Name:Mary A Anderson
Age:11
Estimated Birth Year:abt 1850
Relationship:Daughter
Mother's Name:Janet Allan
Gender:Female
Where born:Inverury, Aberdeenshire
Registration number:236
Registration District:Rayne
Civil Parish:Rayne
County:Aberdeenshire
Address:Kirktown Of Rayne
Occupation:Scholar
ED:1
Household Schedule Number:74
Line:12
Roll:CSSCT1861_33
Household Members:
NameAge
Janet Allan30
Mary A Anderson11
Jean Anderson9
William Anderson7
Alexander Anderson5
Betsy Wilson4 Mo
Unfortunately, we are unable to display the accompanying images of this census at present, despite extensive negotiation with the General Register Office for Scotland. Permission from them has not, as yet, been forthcoming. For this reason, and to enable you to continue with your family history research, Ancestry has heavily transcribed the Scottish Census records to ensure you have access to all key areas of information contained within this collection.
Source Citation:Parish: Rayne; ED: 1; Page: 15; Line: 12; Roll: CSSCT1861_33.
Source Information:
Ancestry.com. 1861 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Original data: Scotland. 1861 Scotland Census. Reels 1-150. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.
      
     Mary Ann married George Kidd Proctor Sr. 6 Dec 1872 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.  They had a daughter Betsy Wilson Proctor born 21 May 1873 but she only lived a couple of weeks.  A little boy James W. Proctor was born to them on 4 August 1874 and Jessie Alan, a little girl, was born 5 Oct 1876.

     Two years later the family immigrated to the United States.  They arrived in New York City 11 Nov 1878 coming through Castle Garden.  

They made their way to Marysville, Marshal,Kansas where another son George Kidd Proctor Jr. was born 12 May 1879. 
     The 1880 US Census finds them in Rock Branch, Norton, Kansas.

From there they moved to Lyle, Decatur, Kansas where my grandfather, Franklin DH Proctor was born 1 September 1881.  Samuel Wilson Proctor was born in Devizes, Norton, Kansas, in December 1883.
     When baby Samuel was only three months old, Great Grandmother, Mary Ann Anderson Proctor, died 9 March 1884 at the young age of 33.  Baby Samuel was soon to follow.  He died 16 June 1884. 
      Mary Ann is buried in the Devizes Cemetery, Devizes, Norton County, Kansas, USA


Thursday, June 27, 2013

George Kidd Proctor Sr-Life History




George Kidd Proctor Sr. was born 10 March 1850 in Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland to James Proctor and Janet Crab.  The only source I can find for his birth is from a page in the family Bible.


His father was a weaver.  His family moved to Panbridge and then to Dundee, Scotland.






He married Mary Ann Anderson 6 December 1872 in Dundee.
 
Betsy Wilson Proctor was born there 21 May 1873 but only lived until 4 June 1873.  Two more children were born in Dundee; James W. Proctor, 4 August 1874; and  Jessie Allan Proctor, 5 October 1876.
Great Grandfather was a wealthy coal dealer in Fife, Scotland.  He heard of the wonderful land that was to be had in the Western United States.  He sold his coal business in Scotland to take up a new life in the United States. 
 He, with his wife Mary Ann and their two small children, James and Jessie,  left Scotland on the ship “Devonia” and arrived in New York 11 November 1878. They found their new home in the State of Kansas.  
They took up a homestead of 160 acres and as many more acres as they could farm in Marshal County Kansas.  This pioneering was indeed a new and hard life to Great Grandfather and Great Grandmother who were accustomed to an easier life in the Old Country.
A son was born 12 May 1879 at Marysville, Marshall, Kansas.  He was named George Kidd Proctor Jr. after his father.  The following 4 Jan. 1880, Jessie died.  Franklin D H Proctor was born 1 September 1881 in  Lyle, Decator, Kansas.
1880 US Census Rock Branch, Norton, Kansas
From Lyle the family moved to Devizes County, Kansas.  Here Samuel Wilson was born December 1883.  Great Grandmother died the following year on 9 March 1884 at Devizes, Norton, Kansas, leaving Great Grandfather with four small sons; James, age 9;  George, age 5; Franklin, age 2; and Samuel, age 3 months.  The following 16 June 1884, Samuel died at the age of 6 months.
In 1883 or 1884 the family was caught in a prairie fire on the Kansas planes.  Great Grandfather burned the grass and wheat around their home for a wide space to save them from the sweeping flames.  In this way the fire would divide and burn around the home.  Great Grandfather was beating the flames with a pair of overalls when a button struck him on the end of the nose and cut out a large seed wart that grew there.  In spite of the pain and a bloody face, he continued to beat the fire.  The family came through the fire all right, but they were nearly cooked by the heat and choked by the smoke.
A cyclone passed through the vicinity where they lived.  Great Grandfather put his family in a cyclone cellar.  He tried to hold up the house by putting his back up against the wall in the kitchen.  When the storm passed over, they all ventured forth.  Their home was still standing but it was twisted out of shape.
A drought followed and for three years very little grew.  Then Great Grandfather took his three sons and all their belongings, put all they had in a wagon and left Kansas for Denver, Colorado. 
Grandfather heard of a great Irrigation Project in Antlers, Colorado.  He took his three sons and left Denver for Antlers where he bought a large farm.
Grandfather married Isadora Pierce Waite in 1892.  A baby girl, Mary, was born 23 March 1894 at Antlers, Colorado.
In 1894 the great reservoir from the Irrigation Project broke.  A terrible flood followed.  Grandfather was sent to warn the Railroad Officials of the flood leaving Grandpa Proctor alone with Great Grandmother Isadora and Mary when the flood hit their home.  The water came in one door and went out the other door. They were all able to make it to safety but the flood had washed away three feet of top-soil.  The trees left standing were held by the roots that were in a hard panel below the soil level.  Great Grandfather's farm was completely washed away.
George Kidd Sr. with George Kidd Jr and Franklin DH in Eureka
The family left Antlers, Colorado and came to Utah in 1894.  They also had a little girl, Mary Waite Proctor born 23 March 1894.  They came down through Spanish Fork Canyon.  They stopped at Robert McKell's home in Spanish Fork.  Here they found food for family and horses.  After 10 days, they pushed on to Eureka, Juab, Utah.  Here they made their home.

Great Grandfather worked in the mines in Eureka for several years.  It was here that Niva Bodez was born 16 October 1895 and Bryan Jennings was born 5 March 1897.  A few days after Bryan's birth, they received word that James Proctor, the oldest son, died 18 March 1897 at Victor, Colorado.
Great Grandmother, Isadora Pierce Waite, died 11 Oct 1899 in Eureka, Juab, Utah at the age of 45. 



1900 US Census Eureka, Utah 
According to the 1900 US Census above, Great Grandfather also married an Agnes Kelly.  I know nothing about this marriage or about Agnes except that her sister is Lizzie and according to FamilySearch her parents are James Angus Kelly and Margaret Campbell.  Agnes was only 20 and Great Grandfather 50. Infact Agnes was the age of his son George Kidd Proctor Jr., the uncle who raised my mother, Ruth.  The marriage couldn't have last long because Great Grandfather married Ingerborg Kristine Marie Pedersen 6 May 1902.  To this union was born 3 children: Jessie Georgina Christiansen on 22 February 1903; Marie Botilda on 22 May 1906; and Christian Roderick on 5 August 1908.
1910 US Census Spanish Fork Utah
Jessie, Marie, Ingerborg, Christian and Great Grandfather, George Kidd Proctor Sr.

I can remember my Aunt Annie Caroline Proctor Jaynes telling me how she and the other grandchildren would run along the side of a float to hear Great Grandfather play the bagpipes in the 4th of July and 24 of July parades. 
Great Grandfather would not live to see this 3rd family grow up.  He died 18 January 1914 in Spanish Fork, Utah at the age of 63.  He died from a septic sore throat and edema of glottis and a carbuncle on the small of his back.  A septic sore throat is any sore throat that is caused by a bacterial infection.  The edema of the glottis is swelling caused by fluid retention in the vocal cords.  A carbuncle is an abyss larger than a boil usually with one or more openings draining pus onto the skin.  It is usually caused by a bacterial infection which can turn lethal.  A contributing factor was an accident to the prostate causing retention of urine.  He had an operation six weeks prior to his death that supposedly relieved this condition.  

He was buried in the Spanish Fork Cemetery 20 January 1914. 


Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Ruth Elizabeth Proctor-Photo Tree

Here is the photo tree of my mother, Ruth Elizabeth Proctor Cook.  We have already learned about her parents Franklin DH Proctor and Elizabeth Sarah Williams Proctor.  The next few days we will learn more about her grandparents and my great grandparents, George Kidd Proctor and his wife, Mary Ann Anderson; and Thomas Trevor Williams and his wife, Annie Atha Blackburn.  

Hope that you are enjoying reading about all of these wonderful people.  It has been quite the journey for me too.  I have enjoyed putting it together.  I would really really enjoy and appreciate hearing from each of you.  Please leave a comment and let me know who you are what you are thinking about as you read these histories.  Have a wonderful day!!!!