Tombstone Tuesday connects C Columbus Winters to grandmother Eckman

Often, when tracing my husband’s family which contains some very common names for Lancaster County, I will take photos of potentials. So awhile back, I was at the Clearfield UM Church Cemetery down Providence Township, Lancaster County and I stumbled across a stone – this stone here – that simply read “Brother” across the top for a C. Columbus Winters. Close enough to my Eliza Winter who married a Socrates Miller. Today instead of just throwing up a photo of a stone for Tombstone Tuesday, I decided to go fishing … and did I get a bite!

C. Columbus Winters, as mentioned, is buried in the Clearfield UM Church Cemetery. He was born 11 February 1858 and passed on 15 December 1906, according to his tombstone.

He had been sick for 13 days prior to his passing, suffering lobar pneumonia, according to his death certificate.

His death certificate, which states he was single, confirms his vitals. It also provides his first name as (what else!) Christopher! Hence, his name is Christopher Columbus Winters. He was the son of Joshua and Martha Kreider Winters, both born in Pennsylvania. His occupation is listed as laborer. The undertaker was Stevenson out of Mt. Nebo. The informant was a Geo. H. Winters of Rawlinsville.

Geo. Would be George, his older brother. George was only older by two years.

By 1900, the Census reveals Columbus and mother Martha are living together, still in Providence Township. We also learn that Martha was born in February 1833 and had nine children. Only four are still alive.

The 1880 Census shows George, age 24, as the head of the household living in Providence Township. George worked in the mines. His wife Lizzie was 19 at that time. She stayed home. Columbus, age 22 at the time, is listed living with George and is a laborer. Also living with them is their 47 year old widowed mother, Martha.

Columbus’ father passed sometime between 1870 and 1880, as he shows up in the 1870 Census. Joshua, age 46, is the head of the house then. Also included that year is Martha, age 37; George, age 14; Columbus, age 12; and Mary, age 10. The family lives in Martic Township. Their post office is Bethesda.

Joshua and his family were living in Providence Township in 1860. The 1860 Census reveals Joshua, age 37; Martha, age 27; Catharine, age 9; George, age 4; Columbus, age 2; Mary, age two months; as well as, Amos Winters, age 28, presumably Joshua’s brother; and finally a 22 year old mason named David Harlin. No indication is provided in the 1860 Census as to actual relationships so David may be a boarder or he may be related somehow.

A look at Joshua

Joshua was still at home in 1850 with his father, Joseph, according to the 1850 Census. I had been hoping, since he was 25 that he and Martha would have already met and married.

Since the Census lists ages, I knew Joshua was born about 1824. I also knew his father is Joseph and his mom passed before 1850. So I did a search on Ancestry.com with extremely limited search fields and one of the results was another tree which did not document anything so I immediately dismissed it. However, the search also revealed a Find A Grave entry … jackpot!

Loving Find A Grave

Joshua Winters is buried at Zion UCC Cemetery in New Providence. Bryan Winter and Scott Keupper did an awesome job with photos and info on Joshua and his family. Thank you both.

So, according to them (yes that means believable, plausible, still want more to document!), Joshua E. Winters was born 24 October 1824 to Joseph (1787-1855) and Ann (1799-1841) Winters. He married Martha A. Kreider (1833-1903). Six children are listed. They are: Henry Winter (1818-1869), Eliza Winter Miller (1818-1907), Emanuel Winter (1821-1888), Joshua E. Winters (1824-1878), Amos Winters (1832-1864), and Daniel Winter (1841-1862).

Eliza is my Eliza!!! Yes, I clicked on her to confirm she is my Elizabeth Winter who married Socrates Miller.

Making the connection!

Joseph Winters and Ann Eberly Joseph Winters and Ann

Eliza Winter and Socrates Miller Joshua Winters and Martha Kreider

Emma Miller and Aldus Eckman C. Columbus Winters (unmarried)

Mabel Eckman – hubby’s grandmother!

Doin’ the Happy Dance!

Tombstone Tuesday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.

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