Tombstone Tuesday: Phoebe Cochran Chesley (nee. Ward, 1830-1928)

Burial: Powell Canyon Cemetery, Custer County, Nebraska.

Phoebe Chesley was my 2xg-grandmother on my father's paternal side.

Copyright © 2021 by Kevin W. Walker

Civil War Relatives

For the last month I have been obsessed with the Civil War, from a family history perspective.  I have been working on getting the National Park Service to give the grave of my gg-grandfather a marker; I have been researching the current location of the regimental flags for the 33rd Illinois, and I have been researching the oral history that one of my gg-grandfathers was a Union spy.

In the meantime, I did put together a list of all my grandfathers and granduncles who served.  I have not done cousins yet.  This list is complete as best as I can determine (the seven names of gg-grandfathers have been bolded; the five names of those who died in service have been italicized) --

RANK        NAME                REGIMENT        STATE         COMPANY

        Henry M. Walker, Sr.    33rd            Illinois        A

Capt    Harvey J. Dutton        33rd            Illinois        A

        Horace S. Dutton        108th           Illinois        E  

        Charles H. Chesley      8th Cavalry     Illinois        K

        John P. Chesley         13th            Illinois        G

        Leonard Chesley         13th            Illinois        G

Sgt     Luman F. Ward           98th            New York        D

        David Ward              2nd Artillery   Ohio            C

Corp    Arthur H. Needham       2nd Cavalry     Iowa            E

        John H. Needham         155th           Ohio            A

        Horatio E. Needham      29th            Iowa            E

Sgt     George E. Needham       177th           Ohio            A

        Benjamin E. Needham     41st            Ohio            D

        Samuel R. Porter        17th            Illinois        I

Lt Col  Dr. Frank G. Porter               -- Surgeon --

        Alexander W. Porter     39th            Pennsylvania    B

Sgt     John W. Porter          39th            Pennsylvania    B

Corp    Alfred Gibson           33rd            Kentucky        D

Sgt     David Gibson            27th            Kentucky        E

        Thomas R. Gibson        35th            Kentucky        B

        William Gurwell         14th            Ohio            E

        Jesse Jones             13th            Kansas          B

Lt      Edward W. Hall          3rd             Iowa            B

        George Hall             26th            Illinois        K

Corp    Levi Hall               33rd            Illinois        C

        Wilbur Hall             2nd Artillery   Massachusetts   M

        Josiah McKee            33rd            Illinois        C

-- Twenty-seven names in total.  All blue, no grey.   My gg-grandfather James G. Gurwell is said to have served, but I can find no record, so he is not included.  Six of these Illinoisans were at Vicksburg, and their names are cast in bronze inside the Illinois memorial there.

Expanding the list to include cousins will be quite a chore but is within my plans.  I know that will expand my connection to the 33rd Illinois even further, at last count I had seven ancestral relatives in that regiment.  And I am not sure, but I think I have one Gibson cousin who went to Texas and fought on the side the Confederacy, ruining my perfect record of all Union ancestral relatives.

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin W. Walker

"Thank You!" Does Not Express it Enough

From the Thursday, May 10, 2012 issue of The Arnold Sentinel newspaper --

Students/Sponsors Clean Up Neglected Cemetery

On May 3, students in grades 6-12 from Arnold Public School spent a good portion of the day sprucing up the Lower Powell Canyon Cemetery, east of Arnold, to prepare for the Memorial Day weekend.   

The cemetery has been in need of care for some time, and in lieu of a community clean up, Mr. Clay Mohr proposed this project to Mrs. Lewis earlier this spring.  Mr. Mohr said it has been at least 10 years since the cemetery received any attention.  First called Rosebud Cemetery for the wild roses growing there, the last burial there was in the 1960s. 

Mr. Mohr and Mitch and Lisa Geiser went out ahead of the kids and did some of the more hazardous prep work. Students’ families donated the use of equipment to make sure the job was done well. They spent time mowing, trimming, picking up branches, etc., to help beautify the cemetery for the families who will be visiting. 

“Projects such as this help the students develop a sense of responsibility and pride in their community. They enjoy Home-based Business Moves Downtown spending time working outdoors, and even more importantly, they enjoy the feeling that they are making a difference in their community,” principal Dawn Lewis said of the project.

-- This cemetery is very near and dear to me.  I have six relatives and ancestors buried there including my g-grandmother Lucy Chesley, and both her parents my gg-grandfather Charles H. Chesley and gg-grandmother Phoebe (Ward) Chesley.

I immediately sent out an email to both the principal Mrs. Lewis and instructor Mr. Mohr thanking them and offering to return the favor if ever I am able to.

Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker

Cyrus D. Ward (1788-1873) War of 1812 Record

"Record of Cyrus Ward" from  U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 --

No.: 550
Name: Ward Cyrus
Rank: Pvt 
Regiment: 17 USI ["U.S. Infantry"]
Company Commander: Capt. Bradford
Height: 5'8"
Eyes: Blue black
Hair: dark brown
Age: 24/25
Complexion: dark
Occupation: farmer
Where Born: Chatham, Morris, New Jersey
Enlistment When: March 24, 1813
Enlistment Where: [blank]
Enlistment By Whom: [illegible]
Enlistment Period: 5 years
Remarks: [Identical to Below]

From Records of Officers and Men of New Jersey in Wars, 1791-1815 --

Ward, Cyrus -- Private, Capt. Benjamin Watson's Company; enlisted, March 24, '13, for five years; promoted Sergt., Feb. 28, '15; transferred with Capt. Benjamin Watson's Company to 6th Infantry, Aug. 31, '15; reduced to private, March 9, '17; promoted Sergt., Dec. 11, '17; discharged at Plattsburgh, N.Y., March 24, '18, expiration of service.

Cyrus D. Ward was my g-g-g-grandfather by way of my g-grandmother Lucy (Chesley) Walker and her mother Phoebe (Ward) Chesley.

I was finding it brutal to get info on Cyrus Ward and his family.  But the above disclosed his birthplace which should help tremendously.

Copyright © 2011 by Kevin W. Walker

Obituary for Cyrus D. Ward, Jr.

I found this obituary on the Ward-Surname Forum on Ancestry.Com.  No other citation is offered.  Cyrus D. Ward, Sr. was my g-g-g-grandfather.  Cyrus Jr. is the older brother of my g-g-grandmother Phoebe (Ward) Chesley.

Cyrus D. Ward was born July 1st, 1832 at Plattsburg, Clinton County, New York. 

He came west in 1868, settled in Mankato and in the early seventies came to Chippewa County [Minnesota] where he settled on a homestead and lived there until his death, Nov. 20, 1922. 

Mr. Ward was one of the early pioneers of this part of the country. At the time he settled on his homestead was before the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul R. R. came to Montevideo. There was a little village near where Montevideo now stands known as Chippewa City. [2007 update: this village was restored into a museum.] 

Mr. Ward was a man without an enemy in the world, he was respected and loved by all who knew him. 

He answered Lincoln's call for Volunteers when the Civil Was broke out, served two and a half years in the 16th N. Y. Volunteers. Among the battles he was in were Bull Run, Fredricksburg and Vicksburg. 

In 1859 he was married to Marion Danforth of Port Henry, N. Y. Twelve children were born, seven still survive; George of Port Henry, N. Y., Ed of Donnybrook, N. D., Linnie Cromwell of Red Stone, Mont., Alice Matthews of Minneapolis, may McGoech of Devils Lake, N. D., Mabel Post of Black River Falls and D. M. Ward of Havelock, with whom he has lived for the past 25 years, his wife having died about 30 years ago. 

The funeral was held today at 10 o'clock at the house. Interment at the Montevideo cemetery. [2007 update: Now known as Sunset Memorial] 

Rev. Seifert officiated. The deceased has been a member of the Methodist church the past 30 years. 

Such men as Mr. Ward were the real empire builders of the northwest.

Copyright © 2011 by Kevin W. Walker

My Ward-family has ties to Massachusetts?

This is news to me, but apparently true.  More fleshing out is needed.  From Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts (New York, Lewis historical Pub. Co., 1910) by William Richard Cutter and William Frederick Adams --

Cyrus Ward lived near Plattsburg, New York. His ancestors settled originally in New Jersey, and his father moved to Ohio after the revolution and during the early settlement of that state.

(II) Luman F., son of Cyrus Ward, was born at Keesville, New York. He was educated in the public schools, and learned the trade of cabinet making, which he followed for many years. From 1855 to the time of his death lie was engaged in farming at Keeseville. He enlisted in the civil war in the Ninety-eighth Regiment of New York Volunteers and served two years, and when he was mustered out he was sergeant of his company. He was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church, an upright, honored and useful citizen. He married Lydia D. Chesley. Children: I. Myron A., born April 14, 1844, mentioned below. 2. Oscar, resides at Easthampton, Massachusetts. 3. Albert Lewis, killed on the railroad at Emery. 4. Elizabeth. 5. Lydia, lives on the homestead at Keesville. 6. Carrie.

(III) Myron A., son of Luman F. Ward, was born in Keeseville, New York, April 14, 1844. He was educated there in the public schools, and worked on his father's farm until 1861, when he enlisted in Company D, Sixtieth New York Regiment, and served four years in the civil war. He was wounded in the battle of Lookout Mountain. He was with General Sherman in his "March to the Sea"' and was one of the men detailed to forage for his regiment. He was discharged and mustered out July 17, 1865. During the next three years he followed farming on the homestead in his native town. In 1868 he came to Easthampton, Massachusetts, to learn the trade of steam-fitter, and in 1870 came to Turner's Falls, where he worked as a journeyman two years. In 1879 he embarked in business as partner in a firm of plumbers and steamfitters and met with gratifying success. He bought out the interests of his partner in 1897 and since then has been in business alone. He has a store on Third street, Chicopee. Besides his tinsmith, plumbing and steam heating business, he deals in stoves, ranges, furnaces and tinware and is one of the leaders in his line of trade in Turner's Falls. Mr. Ward was one of the water commissioners of the town when plans were made and adopted and a system of municipal water supply introduced. He is a member of Post No. 162, Grand Army of the Republic, of which for several years he was commander. He is also a charter member of Elliottstone Lodge, No. 132, Knights of Pythias, of which he was one of the first delegates to the state convention.

He married, November, 1867, Alice I. Keach, daughter of Oran H. Keach, of Rhode Island. Children: William Wallace and .Myron A. Jr.

The Cyrus Ward mentioned in the first paragraph is my g-g-g-grandfather, he lived from 1788-1873, and is buried in Treadwells Mills Cemetery, Plattsburgh, NY, along with his wife Rachel (Cochran) Ward (1797-1859).

Copyright © 2011 by Kevin W. Walker

The Kind of Family Bible that is the Stuff that Genealogical Dreams are Made Of

I was given "the" Family Bible by my grandfather, something for which I am eternally grateful.  But it is really not "old" as it was started by him, and unfortunately research has proven he fudged some of the dates deliberately to hide some family peccadilloes.  So while I am deeply, emotionally touched to be the designated recipient, it has lost a bit of its luster.  Especially when I uncovered this about a different Family Bible belonging to his grandparents:

Testimony given by my g-g-grandmother Phoebe (Ward) Chesley (1830-1928) in the Civil War Widow's Pension File for her husband the late Charles H. Chesley (1829-1905).  --

On this 3 day of July 1905 before me a Notary Public  in and for the county and state afore mentioned personally appeared Phebe C. Chesley who being by me duly sworn swears there is no public record of any kind of fact or date of my marriage to Charles H. Chesley as no such record was by law required to be kept in the state of New York at date of our marriage.  I have a truthful record of my marriage in our family Bible. . . .

The testimony goes on at some length where, among other perfunctory statements like a listing of personal property, she swears there are no remaining witnesses to the marriage nor is she able to contact the minister nor would he have records.

Attached to the sworn affidavit are two more affidavits witnessing to the veracity of the first.  These are from her son-in-law Warren Denslow Copeland (1866-1942) and from a J. O. Mylor who says his age is 44 and his residence as Milldale, NE.

Finally we have an addendum from the attesting notary --

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 3 day of July 1905 by Phebe C.Chesley, claimant for pension and the two persons above subscribing.  I have no interest whatever in the claim for pension by said Phebe C. Chesley widow.  I certify that at the same time said Phebe C. Chesley presented to me a Bible which she said on her oath contained a correct and true record of her family.  I have carefully examined said book.  It appears to have been printed in 1855.  The record is legibly written with no change or alteration from its appearance.  I believe said record is genuine and was probably written near the dates the respective events therein recorded are said to have transpired.  As to the marriage of Charles H. Chesley and Phebe C. Ward the record recites as follows

At top of page under heading of marriages in an old and badly worn and faded Bible appears the following:

Charles H. Chesley (Born Dec 26th AD 1828) x Phebe Ward (Born Feb 6th AD 1830) - August 13th 1848

also a list of others of family with apparent date of marriage set opposite as above.

THAT'S what I am talking about!   The stuff that a Genealogist's dreams are made of.

Copyright © 2011 by Kevin W. Walker

Mother Phoebe Chesley (nee. Ward) 1830-1928

When I think of "mother" relative to my ancestry there is no stronger image than that of Phoebe Chesley, mother of eight (one of whom had Downs Syndrome), grandmother to over thirty, and great-grandmother to an untold number many of whom she lived long enough to see born.

Pictured above are two sets of four generations of women, three generations on each side of the baby! Standing L to R -- Flora Mae Hutchens (nee. Moore), Bessie Ann Walker (nee. Hutchens), Lucy May Walker Copeland (nee. Chesley); Sitting  L to R -- Elizabeth Moore (nee. Johnson), Beulah Walker, Phoebe Chesley (nee. Ward).  The baby's father was Lynndon Walker, Lucy's son.

Phoebe ruled with a strong will and a compassionate heart.  She was the glue that held that huge family together, some of the time without the presence of her husband Charles who served in the Civil War.  After the passing of Charles, she lived with my great-grandmother Lucy.  At first thought I would say it was an honor.  But research says it was likely because Lucy needed the most help.

From Settling the Seven Valleys 1872-1982 (Loup Valley Queen, 1982) --

Some notes on Charles H. and Phoebe Ward Chesley and their eight children.  They were married in 1848 in Plattsburgh, New York, where they grew up and here their first four were born, George 1849, Candis 1852, Charles E. 1854, Ida 1856.  With one nursing baby and three toddlers the couple traveled by wagon train to Morrison, Illinois the summer of 1857.  One year later twins Catie (Eva) and Carrie were born (Carrie died at three months), in 1860 Cyrus Henry and Lucy May, 1866. . . .

In 1870, when the oldest George was 21 and the youngest Lucy May was four, the family emigrated to homestead near Osborn City, Kansas. . . .

In 1889 Charles E. moved his family to Custer County, Nebraska.  By 1894 the entire clan had joined him there, including the elderly Phoebe and Charles H. now in their sixties.  Some of the families homesteaded, some bought existing farms, my great-grandmother Lucy homesteaded.

Phoebe Ward Chesley, the mother, grandmother, and great grandmother to the above families lived to be 98.  She was cared for in the home of her youngest daughter Lucy Walker Copeland.  She was still making quilts until the last years, always wore a neat ruffled bedcap, used a magnifying glass to read her Bible.  She died in 1928.

 © 2010, Copyright Kevin W. Walker