Census Sunday attempts to track Civil War veteran across the nation

Most of my ancestors were born, lived and died within a tight geographic circle. There were a few who moved away for work only to move back. Of course my immigrant picked up and moved across the pond! They seem to be the only daring ones though – except my uncle Benjamin VanHorn.

Benjamin was born in Pennsylvania, and lived in Chester County most of his formative years. He fought in the Civil War, on the Union Side. It goes without saying that he traveled during that time. A few years after the war, he married in Philadelphia and moved shortly thereafter to Virginia (where their eldest was born) before settling in California.

Benjamin was born around 1843 to George VanHorn and Jane Dudbridge. The first census he is named therefore on is the 1850 US Census.

1850 US Census

Benjamin was just seven in 1850. Listed as Franklin, I found him in the 1850 US Census living with his parents. He has three siblings at this time: Pierson (my 3x great grandfather whose full name is Chrispin Pierson VanHorn), 10; Martha, 5; and Joanna, 2. The family lived in Kensington Ward 5 in Philadelphia. His father, George, was employed as a sawyer at that time.

1860 US Census

Benjamin, 17, was living with his parents and siblings in 1860. The family lived in Valley Township, Chester County, but they were covered by the Coatesville post office. George (his father), Chrispin, and Benjamin are listed as farmers. Jane (their mother) is a housewife. The other children – Martha, Joanna, and William – are in school.

1870 US Census

Benjamin and his young family were settled in California by 1870. They lived in Milpitas, Santa Clara, California. Their post office was Alviso. It was just him, his wife Margaret, and their two year old daughter Virginia.

1880 US Census

By 1880, Benjamin, now 37, is married to Margaretta Hensel and they live in Milpitas, Santa Clara, California. He is a farmer. They have five children: Virginia, 12; Minnie, 9; George, 7; Teresa, 3; and William, 1. Virginia had been born in Virginia. The other children were all born in California.

1900 US Census

Benjamin, now 57, is widowed. He lives in San Jose, Santa Clara, California with four sons: George, William, Lemuel, and Hensell. Benjamin is now a carpenter. George was a cook. William and Hensel were day laborers and Lemuel was an engineer.

Since the US Census is only conducted every 10 years, there is a huge life gap between 1860 and 1870. In that single decade, other sources confirm, Benjamin fought in the Civil War, was a Prisoner of War at Libby Island, married, moved to Virginia, and finally moved to California where his family settled.

Census Sunday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.

Coatesville's First Serial Killer

Young Alexander Meyer was a disturbed and angry young man with some major issues. He had failed sixth and seventh grade, and instead of having to repeat eighth grade again, he finally gave up on school. At age 16 he quit Downingtown Junior High. Meyer is not a relative, nor are his victims (that I am aware). I stumbled upon young Alex while reading Tortured Minds: Pennsylvania's Most Bizarre - But Forgotten - Murders by Tammy Mal. On 11 February 1937 Alexander Thweatt Meyer killed young Helen Moyer as she walked home from school in Coatesville along Modena Road. She was not his first. The jury was out only three minutes after hearing Dr. Michael Margolis' testimony on the death of Helen Moyer. The jury determined Meyer had murdered Moyer and should be held for first degree murder. The jury also condemned the parole system which had released Meyer back into the public, after having served just 14 months in Huntingdon Reformatory, for the murder of two other girls - Anna Blasc...

Thaddeus Stevens at the Lancaster Convention Center

Within the Lancaster Convention Center (Lancaster, PA) is a small section dedicated to Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith. The section is known as the Stevens & Smith Historic Site. It is scheduled for development this year. At the moment one can only get a glimpse of it through the Convention Center or by peeking in from the outside. Here at Queen and Vine Streets in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania, Thaddeus Stevens had his law office. Stevens was an abolitionist. An abolitionist is a person who favors the abolition of a practice or institution, especially capital punishment or (formerly) slavery. Stevens was born 4 April 1792 to Joshua Stevens and Sarah (Sally) Morrill in Danville Vermont. One of four children, he attended Vermont University from 1810 to 1812 when the War prompted its closure. He then went to Dartmouth, where he graduated in 1814. He then studied law and found himself set up in Gettysburg, PA in 1816. He practiced law there until 1828 when he...

52 Ancestors: Remembering the King

Today is Elvis’ birthday. He would have been 80 today. I was only eight when he died so obviously I am too young to have seen Elvis perform. However, when I hear his music, I go back in time. I am once again that young girl dancing in the living room to Elvis and other greats with my father. Back then girls learned to dance by dancing with their fathers not some video of scantly dressed people doing all sorts of things young ladies should not be doing in public! What is YOUR favorite memory - either of your father or of Elvis? 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a weekly genealogical challenge issued by Amy Johnson Crow, of No Story Too Small . Look for my weekly posts each Thursday! © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

Genealogical Gems

Search This Blog