George Wright FAN Club, 1850 census, Brown County, Ohio

George Wright appears in the 1850 census of Washington Township, Brown County, Ohio in dwelling 1556, family 1561.  The census lists George as a 69 year-old farmer, born in Pennsylvania, along with his wife, Elizabeth, age 68, also born in Pennsylvania.

In focusing on his FAN (Friends, Associates & Neighbors) club, I’ve looked into the neighboring ten households before and ten households afterwards to ensure that I’m covering all of his close neighbors.  What I’ve discovered is that, as expected, many of these families are inter-connected through marriage and have been part of the same network for several years.

In this analysis, I started with George’s household and then moved to through the ten households prior before picking up and working on the ten households after his enumeration.

Living in the same household as George and his wife, Elizabeth, are four other Wrights, including Samuel P., age 33, farmer, born in Ohio.  This is George’s known son. [His middle name was Pangburn, a potential clue to another family relationship.]  Samuel’s wife, Rebecca R., age 24, born in Ohio and their two children: Elizabeth S., aged 4, born in Ohio and George H., age 2, born in Ohio complete the household.

Next door is the family in dwelling 1555, family 1560 headed by John Wright, age 35, farmer, born in Ohio.  This is also George’s known son.  John’s wife, Anne, age 34, born in Ohio and their five children : Elizabeth J., age 14, born in Ohio; Joseph, age 12, born in Ohio; Nancy, age 9, born in Ohio; Mary, age 7, born in Ohio and Maxamelia, age 4, born in Ohio complete the household.  [These names all match the 1883 sketch of John Wright’s family in the History of Brown County, Ohio.  I descend from John’s son, Joseph.]

The family in dwelling 1554, family 1559 is headed by John Robbins, age 52, farmer, born in Pennsylvania.  Living in the household are Mary, age 23, born in Ohio; William, age 20, born in Ohio; Elizabeth, age 19, born in Ohio; Sarah, age 17, born in Ohio; George, age 14, born in Ohio; Cecilia, age 12, born in Ohio; Amos, age 6, born in Ohio; and Lydia, age 4, born in Ohio. [Could this be a brother to George's wife, Elizabeth Robins/Robbins?]

The family in dwelling 1553, family 1558 is headed by William P. Hindman, age 24, born in Ohio.  Living in the household are Amanda, age 25, born in Ohio and Caroline A., age 2, born in Ohio.

The family in dwelling 1552, family 1557 is headed by Allen Hendrixson, age 33, farmer, born in Kentucky.  Living in the household are Sarah, age 30, born in Ohio; Elizabeth, age 9, born in Ohio; George, age 8, born in Ohio; William M., age 5, born in Ohio; Nancy, age 2, born in Ohio and Susana, age 6 months, born in Ohio. [Allen Hendrixson married Sarah Ann Wright on October 24, 1839 in Brown County, Ohio.  Sarah was the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Robins) Wright]

The family in dwelling 1551, family 1556 is headed by William Hindman, age 62, farmer, born in Kentucky.  Living in the household are Nancy, age 58, born in Pennsylvania;  William, age 7, born in Indiana; as well as Martha J. Huggins, age 32, born in Ohio; Vilena Huggins, age 8, born in Ohio; and Eveline Davis, age 15, born in Ohio.   

The family in dwelling 1550, family 1555 is headed by Mary Robins, age 50, born in Ohio.  Living in the household are John, carpenter, age 26, born in Ohio; Josiah, carpenter, age 25, born in Ohio; Samuel, carpenter, age 19, born in Ohio; Lucinda, age 17, born in Ohio and William M., farmer, age 15, born in Ohio.

The family in dwelling 1549, family 1554 is headed by Jonathan W. Riley, age 26, miller, born in Ohio.  Living in the household are Olive, age 29, born in Ohio; John O., age 4, born in Illinois and Rosella, age 2, born in Ohio.

The family in dwelling 1548, family 1553 is headed by John W. Riley, age 60, miller, born in North Carolina.  Living in the household are Sarah, age 58, born in Kentucky; Elizabeth, age 24, born in Ohio and Thirza, age 17, born in Ohio.

The family in dwelling 1547, family 1552 is headed by Thomas Purdy, age 28, farmer, born in Pennsylvania.  Living in the household are Lucinda, age 24, born in Ohio, and William T., age 2, born in Ohio.

The family in dwelling 1546, family 1551 is headed by William Wilson, age 50, farmer, born in Virginia.  Living in the household are Sarah, age 49, born in Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, age 22, born in Ohio; Sarah A., age 16, born in Ohio; Martin, age 14, born in Ohio; Josiah, age 9, born in Ohio and Letty J., age 7, born in Ohio.

This ends the enumeration of the ten households prior to George Wright in Washington Township, Brown County, Ohio in the 1850 census.  Next I will focus on the ten households afterwards.

The family in dwelling 1557, family 1562 is headed by John T. Reeves, age 38, farmer, born in Ohio.  Living in the household are Eliza, age 39, born in Ohio; Frances, age 19, born in Ohio; William R., age 16, born in Ohio; Rebecca, age 14, born in Ohio; John R., age 7, born in Ohio; Daniel Smith, age 19, laborer, born in Ohio and Sybil Jacobs, age 81, born in Virginia. [John T. Reeves married Elizabeth Jacobs, daughter of William & Sybil (Little) Jacobs - another branch of my family.]

The family in dwelling 1558, family 1563 is headed by James Calvin, age 39, farmer, born in Ohio.  Living in the household are Matilda, age 30, born Ohio; David, age 12, born in Ohio; Mary J., age 8, born in Ohio; Christena, age 6, born in Ohio; Martha J., age 4, born in Ohio and John T., age 2, born in Ohio.

The family in dwelling 1559, family 1564 is headed by Jane Calvin, age 66, born in Virginia.  Living in the household are Albert, age 32, farmer, born in Ohio; Robert, age 30, farmer, born in Ohio; Luther, age 28, farmer, born in Ohio and Jane, age 26, born in Ohio. [Believe this is the Jane Wardlow who married Joseph Calvin January 12, 1805 in Clermont County, Ohio.  Jane was the daughter of Robert & Janet (Downey) Wardlow.]

The family in dwelling 1560, family 1565 is headed by Morris Vance, age 33, farmer, born in Ohio.  Living in the household are Nancy, age 33, born in Ohio; Margaret, age 10, born in Ohio; Jane, age 9, born in Ohio; James H.P., age 5, born in Ohio; John, age 3, born in Ohio; Joseph, age 1, born in Ohio and Abraham S., aged 1 month born in Ohio.  [Morris Vance married Nancy Calvin, daughter of Joseph & Jane (Wardlow) Calvin.]

The family in dwelling 1561, family 1566 is headed by Margaret Wardlow, age 44, born in North Carolina.  Living in the household are Elizabeth J., age 17, born in Ohio; Catherine S., age 14, born in Ohio; Jacob W., age 12, born in Ohio; Margaret, age 9, born in Ohio;  James, age 7, born in Ohio and Thomas G., age 3, born in Ohio. [Believe this is Margaret (Hoss) Wardlow, who married Philander Wardlow on December 26, 1822 in Brown County, Ohio.  He died August 25, 1847 and was the son of William and Isabel (Nesbit) Wardlow.]

The family in dwelling 1562, family 1567 is headed by Matilda Wardlow, age 30, born in Ohio.  Living in the household is Isabella, age 70, born in Virginia and David, age 17, born in Ohio.  [Believe this is Matilda, daughter of William and Isabel (Nesbit) Wardlow.]

The family in dwelling 1563, family 1568 is headed by Ellis M. Dye, age 41, farmer, born in Ohio.  Living in the household are Margaret, age 38, born in Ohio; Sarah J., age 16, born in Ohio; James H., age 14, born in Ohio; Matilda A., age 12, born in Ohio; David G., age 9, born in Ohio; Noah E., age 7, born in Ohio; Mary A., age 5, born in Ohio; Mary A., age 5, born in Ohio; John R., age 3, born in Ohio and Henry P., age 1, born in Ohio.

The family in dwelling 1564, family 1569 is headed by Patrick Vance, age 43, farmer, born in Ohio.  Living in the household is Rebecca, age 43, born in Ohio; Ruth, age 20, born in Ohio; John, age 18, born in Ohio; Elizabeth, age 16, born in Ohio; David, age 12, born in Ohio; Daniel, age 10, born in Ohio; McKea, age 8, born in Ohio; William W., age 5, born in Ohio and Jesse H., age 2, born in Ohio.

The family in dwelling 1565, family 1570 is headed by William Vance, age 46, farmer, born in Kentucky.  Living in the household is Margaret J., age 25, born in Ohio; Joseph C., age 23, farmer, born in Ohio; Lydia A.M., age 19, born in Ohio; Mary M., age 17, born in Ohio; Sysena, age 15, born in Ohio; Sophrona, age 12, born in Ohio; William H.H., age 10, born in Ohio; Thomas C.H., age 6, born in Ohio; Lafayette S., age 4, born in Ohio; and Hanson L.P., age 1, born in Ohio.

The family in dwelling 1566, dwelling 1571 is headed by Hysom Moler, age 34, farmer, born in Kentucky.  Living in the household is Nancy A., age 27, born in Ohio; Thomas S., age 8, born in Ohio; James L., age 6, born in Ohio; Matilda A., aged 3, born in Ohio; Henry H., age 1, born in Ohio and Margaret, age 16, born in Ohio.

I will be adding these names and family members to my spreadsheet of George's FAN club and begin searching for additional clues that might tie them to George, either through marriage or land records.  

If you have any connection or are related to any of these families, I would love to hear from you.

Brothers, Neighbors and Friends

John Wright household, 1850  U.S. census, population schedule, Washington Township, Brown County, Ohio, USA, dwelling 1555, family 1560; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 662.

The John Wright household was enumerated in Washington Township, Brown County, Ohio in the 1850 census on September 18th.  They were dwelling 1555 and family 1560, nestled in between the families of John Robbins and George Wright.  George Wright was John's father, John Robbins has not yet been identified, but may be John Wright's uncle.  John Wright was my maternal 4x great-grandfather.


In 1850, John Wright was a 35 year old farmer, born in Ohio.  The census lists no real estate, so he may have been renting from his father.  John's wife, Anne, was 34 years old, could not read or write, and was also born in Ohio.  The couple's children were listed as Elizabeth, aged 14 born in Ohio; Joseph, aged 12 born in Ohio; Nancy, aged 9 born in Ohio; Mary, aged 7 born   in Ohio; and Maxamila, aged 4 born in Ohio.  Elizabeth, Joseph and Nancy had all attended school within the year.


Right next door was John's father, George Wright.  In 1850, George Wright was a 69 year old farmer, born in Pennsylvania.  The value of his real estate was listed at $ 2500.  George's wife, Elizabeth, was 68 years old, and was also born in Pennsylvania.  Also in the household was the Samuel P. Wright family - son of George and brother to John, above.  Samuel was a 33 year old farmer, born in Ohio, with real estate valued at $ 20.  Samuel's wife, Rebecca R., was 24 years old and born in Ohio.  The couple's children were listed as Elizabeth S, aged 4 born in Ohio; George H, aged 2 born in Ohio; and John R., aged 8 months born in Ohio.


The makeup of these families was known to me for several years, as I've had them in my database, yet until today I hadn't entered source data from the census and looked at the family dynamics.  By 1853 and 1857, respectively, both George and Anne [or Anna] Wright would have passed away.


Next door to George Wright was the household of John T. Reeves.  In 1850, John T. Reeves was a 38 year old farmer, born in Ohio.  The value of his real estate was listed at $ 800, and he could not read or write.  John's wife, Elizabeth, was 39 years old and was likewise born in Ohio and could not read or write.  The couple's children were listed as Frances, aged 17 born in Ohio; William R., aged 16 born in Ohio; Rebecca, aged 14 born in Ohio; and John R., aged 4 born in Ohio.  A boarder, Daniel Smith, aged 19 born in Ohio and a laborer was also listed in the household.  Finally, Sybil Jacobs, aged 81 born in Virginia was also listed.  Sybil (Littell) Jacobs was my 6x maternal great-grandmother.


The next two families are the Calvin families, which I believe to be related to the Wardlow/Wardlaw families - another line from which I am descended.


It is interesting to see how these families and neighbors were close together.  Though the Wright's and Jacobs lines were not related, a few years later when Joseph Wright [listed in the John Wright household above] married Rebecca Heaton [Sybil Jacobs' great-granddaughter], the two families were connected.  Joseph and Rebecca were my 3x great-grandparents.

My Connection with Dick Cheney

Over the holidays, I was able to meet up with my cousin Jim and his family from Alabama, and the discussion turned to genealogy.  We were discussing this blog and the family tree and the talked turned to who we were related to and what a 1st cousin once removed was, etc.  One of the well-known relatives that we share is former Vice President Richard 'Dick' CHENEY, and I promised Jim that I would let him know just how we were related.

William Addams Reitwiesner's website posts the ancestry of VP Dick Cheney, as well as numerous other politicos.  Our common Cheney ancestor is Thomas CHENEY, of Cambridge, Mass., whose will was dated October 23, 1695.  In the descendancy below, our ancestors are listed first, followed by the VP's.



Thomas CHENEY b. 1633 Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, m. January 11, 1655 Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts to Jane ATKINSON.  Jane died after July 29, 1724.


Generation One:  (Brother/Sister)


Margaret CHENEY b. November 26, 1656, m. January 1, 1674 Cambridge, Massachusetts to Nicholas FESSENDEN.  Nicholas b. 1650 Cantebury, England, d. February 24, 1719 Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Margaret d. December 10, 1717 Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Benjamin CHENEY b. January 29, 1674/5 Roxbury, Massachusetts, m. November 14, 1706 Charlestown, Massachusetts to Mary HARBERT.  Mary d. May 15, 1760 Ashford, Connecticut.  Benjamin d. July 13, 1718 Cambridge, Massachusetts.



Generation Two: (1st cousins)

William FESSENDEN b. 1694 Cambridge, Massachusetts, m(2). January 4, 1728 Cambridge, Massachusetts to Martha BROWN.  Martha b. June 16, 1699, d. February 24, 1773 Cambridge, Massachusetts.  William d. May 26, 1756 Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Joseph CHENEY b. November 2, 1709 Cambridge, Massachusetts, m. Elizabeth TUCKER.  Joseph d. 1776.



Generation Three: (2nd cousins)

Hannah FESSENDEN b. August 15, 1732 Cambridge, Massachusetts, m. February 15, 1753 Cambridge, Massachusetts to John WRIGHT.  John b. February 10, 1727 Freuchie, Fife, Scotland, d. June 1772 Anamaboo, New Guinea.  Hannah d. December 9, 1800.

William CHENEY b. September 8, 1741 Newbury, Massachusetts, m. April 17, 1763 Newbury, Massachusetts to Elizabeth SWEET.  Elizabeth b. November 24, 1745 Newbury, Massachusetts.  William d. April 4, 1803 Grand Menan Island, New Brunswick



Generation Four: (3rd cousins)

John WRIGHT bap. April 13, 1755 Cambridge, Massachusetts, m. bef. 1780 to Sarah FLEMING.  John d. October 15, 1810 Clermont County, Ohio.

Ebenezer CHENEY b. February 24, 1764 Newbury, Massachusetts, m. August 3, 1789 Campton, New Hampshire to Hannah EATON.  Hannah b. December 4, 1761, d. January 14, 1832 Campton, New Hampshire.  Ebenezer d. August 3, 1832 Campton, New Hampshire.



Generation Five: (4th cousins)

George WRIGHT b. July 31, 1780 Pennsylvania, m. January 27, 1812 Adams County, Ohio to Elizabeth ROBINS.  Elizabeth b. June 16, 1781 Pennsylvania, d. November 22, 1857 Brown County, Ohio.  George d. August 5, 1853 Brown County, Ohio.


Elias Eaton CHENEY b. May 30, 1793 Campton, New Hampshire, m. Lucy FLETCHER.  Lucy b. April 21, 1803 Thetford, Vermont.  Elias d. February 2, 1859 Thetford, Vermont.


Generation Six: (5th cousins)

John WRIGHT b. November 4, 1814 Brown County, Ohio, m. September 9, 1834 Brown County, Ohio to Anna WARDLOW.  Anna b. April 23, 1816 Brown County, Ohio, d. October 4, 1893 Brown County, Ohio.  John d. June 10, 1890 Brown County, Ohio.


Samuel Fletcher CHENEY b. December 2, 1829 Boscawen, New Hampshire, m. September 24, 1861 Defiance, Ohio to Ella A. PHILLIPS.  Ella b. February 1840 New York, d. after 1900 census.  Samuel d. after 1900 census.


Generation Seven: (6th cousins)

Joseph W. WRIGHT b. April 1838 Brown County, Ohio, m. November 1, 1857 Schuyler County, Missouri to Rebecca Ann HEATON.  Rebecca b. 1841, d. March 25, 1890 Madison County, Indiana.  Joseph d. September 16, 1919 Madison County, Indiana.

Thomas Herbert CHENEY b. April 10, 1869 Defiance, Ohio, m(2) May 20, 1914 to Margaret Ellen TYLER.  Margaret b. June 16, 1877 Franklin, Indiana, d. April 28, 1961 Casper, Wyoming.  Thomas d. March 29, 1947 Sumner, Nebraska.



Generation Eight (7th cousins)

John William WRIGHT b. February 21, 1860 Brown County, Ohio, m. May 13, 1888 Madison County, Indiana to Ellen KING.  Ellen b. August 24, 1868 Madison County, Indiana, d. December 24, 1913 Madison County, Indiana.  John d. June 5, 1945 Madison County, Indiana.

Richard Herbert CHENEY b. June 16, 1915 Nebraska, m. Marjorie Lorraine DICKEY.  Marjorie b. January 8, 1918 Nebraska, d. December 26, 1993 Casper, Wyoming.  Richard d. May 23, 1999 Casper, Wyoming.



Generation Nine (8th cousins)

Virgil Lee WRIGHT b. July 6, 1894 Orestes, Indiana, m. June 19, 1915 Alexandria, Indiana to Edna Muriel PIERCE.  Edna b. February 7, 1897 Madison County, Indiana, d. March 3, 1968 Anderson, Indiana.  Virgil d. March 25, 1972 Alexandria, Indiana.

Richard Bruce CHENEY b. January 30, 1941 Lincoln, Nebraska, Representative from Wyoming 1979-1989, US Secretary of Defense 1989-1993, US Vice President 2001-2008.


Virgil Lee WRIGHT is our great-grandfather, so cousin Jim and I would be 8th cousins 3 times removed to the former Vice President.

Family Milestones: November 22nd

My paternal granduncle, Gerald Walker LEMASTERS, married Mabel Agnes KANTER on this date in 1919 in Jay County, Indiana. Gerald was the son of Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabel (WEHRLY) LEMASTERS, and the older brother of my Ord Wehrly LEMASTER. Gerald was born January 15, 1896 in Jay County, Indiana. Mabel was born November 9, 1898 in Jay County, Indiana, the daughter of Henry and Estella (BROWN) KANTNER. Mabel died January 3, 1927 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. Gerald remarried to Pearl Lovina SMITH. Gerald died in March 1987 and is buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

My maternal 4th-great grandaunt, Dialtha Adaline SWAFFORD, married John R. KING on this date in 1849 in Monroe County, Indiana. Dialtha was the daughter of Larkin and Nancy (________) SWAFFORD, and the younger sister of my Peter Kirkpatrick SWAFFORD. Dialtha was born circa 1830 in Tennesseee. John was born circa 1825 in Kentucky. They lived in Washington Township, Monroe County, Indiana through the 1870 census. Need to do more research to determine when and where they died.

My maternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Eliza Margaret KING, was born on this date in 1857 in Frankton, Madison County, Indiana. Eliza was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (SHAW) KING, and the older sister of my Ellen KING. Eliza married James H. DWIGGINS on August 16, 1877 in Madison County, Indiana. They had at least 3 children. Eliza died August 18, 1889 in Orestes, Madison County, Indiana and is buried in the Sigler Cemetery, Madison County, Indiana.

My maternal 4th-great grandaunt, Sarah Ann WRIGHT, was born on this date in 1820 in Brown County, Ohio. Sarah was the daughter of George and Elizabeth (ROBBINS) WRIGHT, and the younger sister of my John WRIGHT. Sarah married Allen HENDRIXSON on October 24, 1839 in Brown County, Ohio. Allen was born on May 4, 1817 in Fleming County, Kentucky, the son of Enoch and Nancy Ann (ROE) HENDIXSON. Sarah died February 9, 1858 in Brown County, Ohio. Allen died April 11, 1885 in Brown County, Ohio.

My paternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Hannah LEMASTERS, was born on this date in 1832 in Shelby County, Ohio. Hannah was the daughter of Jacob and Hannah (________) LEMASTERS, and the older sister of my Luman Walker LEMASTERS. Hannah died November 21, 1838 in Shelby County, Ohio.

Spinsters Club meets

Source: Anderson Daily Bulletin, Anderson, Indiana, Monday, December 18, 1961, page 16.

ALEXANDRIA - The Spinsters Club met Monday at the home of Miss Mary Ann Hocker. Miss Sheri Robbins conducted the meeting. Plans were made for a Christmas party to be held at the home of Miss Linda Lambertson.

Miss Lambertson Feted At Shower

Source: Anderson Daily Bulletin, Anderson, Indiana, Tuesday, May 15, 1956, page 5.

Miss Lambertson Feted At Shower

ALEXANDRIA - Miss Shirley Lambertson was feted recently at a bridal shower in the I. and M. Rooms by Miss Inez Allen, Miss Nancy McCaslin and Mrs. James Sigler. Contests were enjoyed and the honor guest opened her gifts from a beautifully decorated table.

Guests included Virginia Dea Kyne, Betty Crower, Wanita Hinds, Valeta Shaw, Rosemary Robbins, Virginia Green, Joan Coffin, Ethel Benefiel, Mary Zigler, Grace Shaffer, Nellie Foster, Ruth Huffman, Mary Savage, Velva Shelton, Donna Reiley, Mary Jo Reily, Charlotte Vetor, Darlene Lambertson, Mrs. Robert Patz Sr., and Mrs. Frank Lambertson.